January 2009
FightingBob.com readers talk back
Letter on: C'mon Tom!
“Several things are clear from this post and the last several posts. Despite all the yammering about "Change" the Obamists have simply tapped into the same old Clinton era crowd to run the show. Some change.
Here at the state level Rep. VanRoy (R) offered a bill that would set up a legislative committee, with Dems holding the majority of the seats (as is right given the election results) that would oversee the stimulus money coming from Washington. The Dems shot the idea down. It is a sad day when representatives of the so-called "Party of the People" cave into the man who would be King of Wisconsin (Oily Doyle) and thereby let a Republican make them look bad.
Change? Right. Let us know how this all works out. For now it is the same old crap wrapped up in a new package. Tin ear indeed. NONE of these clowns have figured out that the old system of doing things essentially collapsed this past summer and fall. If they want to put Humpty Dumpty back together again let them join the Congress in Cloud Cuckoo Land. Other than that they should get the hell out of the way and at least shut up. Time for Obama, and our so-called Democratic leaders like Tom Nelson etc. to get a clue and give the old guard the bums rush.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 31, 2009
Letter on: Something has gone terribly wrong!
“I've read "How the Irish Saved Civilization", "Paddy's Lament", "Teacher Man" and Fighting Bob. God bless the Irish and may the road always rise up to meet you.
”
-Donna Metzger | Milwaukee, WI | January 30, 2009
Letter on: The Wolf and the Lamb
“Someone from WMC was on the radio this morning touting that they were not going to get involved in the Supreme Court Race because they want the people to decide on their own who to vote for. I am glad to find out the real reason. I thought it was just because they knew they could not win. Thanks Ed.”
-Kathleen Hart | Milwaukee, WI | January 29, 2009
Letter on: State of our State
“It is sad enough that the best in leadership the state offers up, is basic ineptness. Perhaps you can assist with discovering why no one is following up on bonehead after bonehead this administration displays. Example here:
Last week IBM decided to build a 100MM technical services and support center in Dubuque, IA. With
all the clamor of jobs, economic development, and job creation. Wisconsin was not even considered because all parties who should have been aware were asleep at the state taxpayers expense. This is a shame and displays how remarkably dense the decision makers we look for leadership too actually are. How is it possible that Dept. of commerce, forward Wisconsin, and every other agency and qazi-public agency had no idea that IBM was even in the search mode the past 2 years? Perhaps this seems strongly opinionated, but isnt this a clear point of incompetence for on the job work performance for a half dozen or so bureaucrats? If you dont publish this somehow, this will be sent to every legislator in WIS. until we get the right people who can actually make something happen in the right depts, we can't all sit back and watch our state die a slow painful death.”
-LaFay | Belleville, WI | January 28, 2009
Letter on: Yikes! The Pope is back
“The Pope should be impeached! Seriously, many of us Catholics (those who still hang in there because we love the Church) are appalled at his decision to "forgive" the recalcitrant bishops, and begin praying again for the "conversion" of the Jewish people. Way back when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, and was known as a stern judge in the Vatican of all things Catholic, the National Catholic Reporter used to have a wonderful column of humor which always asked "Does Ratzinger know this?" whenever a situation arose that called for knocking someone or something. Now he does know and he is showing his true nature as he exercises the power of the papacy, which does not in any way resemble that of blessed John XXIII of happy memory! But not to worry, God will not let him have the last word!”
-Marliss Rogers | Port Washington, WI | January 28, 2009
Letter on: State of our State
“Doyle knows his own feckless Democrats better than anyone else. He knows he can depend on them to spend more time fighting each other in private than calling him to account in public. Democrats have won majorities for the first time in ages and are now busy showing the public why they were in the minority for so long.
As for Doyle may I not so humbly suggest that maybe Blago has nothing on Oily Doyle. I suspect he helped engineer the Lautenschlager downfall (he has hated her for years because she stood up to him when he was AG), he has engaged in sneak politics in special elections (was it he who hired Rongstad in the special election involving Julie Lassa?), and has generally acted like he should run it all because he knows it all.
If the Dems don't find a way to stop this crook the public will NOT reward them with another majority term. Where are people like Nelson, Erpenbach, Hansen, etc.?”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 28, 2009
Letter on: Hands across the aisle? Sure.
“Stimulous.....you are crazy. Most is pork. Even ACORN will be able to get billions. Thank God some Conservatives have a little sense and will object to some....some....provisions. They don't oppose all.....just the pork.”
-John Hyland | Appleton, WI | January 27, 2009
Letter on: Open government?
“I'm sure it's been said before, but it is a kindness that Governor Doyle's parents are not around to watch the sorry job their son is doing.”
-Oliver Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 25, 2009
Letter on: Open government?
“In regard to Doyle and his crew. Maybe there is a reason why Blagojovich wants Jim Doyle to be a character witness in any impeachment trial. I suspect they are two sides of the same coin. The only difference is that Doyle is a little sharper about legalities and has evaded capture. At least so far.
When, or when, will the ninnyhammer Dems wake up and realize that Jim Doyle is for Jim Doyle first, last, and always. World without end, Amen.
I say Dump Doyle and do it quick.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 24, 2009
Letter on: All problems solved?
“RE: the WPRI statement. It's pretty rare for me to line up behind the Bradly people, but is it so hard to believe that people will come to a better place?
I have to admit that I'd feel better about this if Illinois would come along for the ride. Is there any reason this couldn't be more of a regional plan?”
-Jeff | Madison, WI | January 23, 2009
Letter on: All problems solved?
“In regard to Healthy Wisconsin and this state becoming an "insurance magnet". The solution is very simple. Enact the legislation and put a proof of citizenship and residency requirement in the bill. For new arrivals to the state a one year waiting period would be required.
As for becoming a "magnet" have any of these people considered that if each and every citizen of Wisconsin were insured that we might also attract businesses to Wisconsin? After all, even the business community now admits that perhaps single payer is the best final option here.
It sure would save them some costs and headaches. It would also end some of the unfairness and also the galling arguments over coverage for domestic partners, children but not their parents, public sector insurance vs. private sector contractions in coverage etc. Just insure each individual in their own right.
Really guys, get a grip and join the modern world.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 23, 2009
Letter on: Unbelievable (almost)
“The letter I wrote about Lacey was quoted briefly and thus missed the point I was trying to make. What happened to the rest of the letter? Is it the practice to quote someone's letter out of context? That seems contrary to the principles of Fighting Bob.
Disappointed.”
-Joan Downs | Madison, WI | January 21, 2009
Letter on: Feigned aid
“What kind of proaganda is this? Israel's attack on Gaza did target schools, U.N. facilities, etc. It was deliberate, not preceived.
Why do you not state the billions that the U.S. has given to Israel of military and economic aid over the last 60 years?”
-Thomas Kozlovsky | Madison, WI | January 21, 2009
Letter on: Chartering our future
“The writers are part of the "professoriat". This is the crowd that gave us hairbrained after hairbrained ideas about education. Everything from New Math to alternative spelling and writing, to history for dummies and PC thought on everything. What has suffered is good solid education.
It is doubtful if the students of these two gentlemen could pass the high school graduation test that Harry Truman had to complete.
Adding insult to injury they wrote a screed on all kinds of things and made more than a few tenuous connections to education.
I want to be clear. If Charter Schools means what they have in Milwaukee and funded by a misguided voucher system I am against them. If, on the other hand, charter schools are essentially alternatives to the standard public school, if the teachers keep their rights, and if they must pass muster as to standards etc. then I am all for them.
For a while Milwaukee had "Magnet Schools" and they seemed to be working. What was lacking was the funding and political will to keep them going. We need change and chartering schools should be given a try. Just not, in fairness to the writers, as the privatizers want to do it.
My complaint with the authors is that these are the types who are all too often the defenders of a broken status quo. We don't need more of that any more than we need the rampant privatization of the commons.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 21, 2009
Letter on: Unbelievable (almost)
“I didn't think it could even happen in 2009. I thought it would happen but not in my lifetime. Good quote from rapper Z. "Rosa Parks sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Obama could run and Obama ran so we can fly."”
-Kathleen Hart | Greendale, WI | January 20, 2009
Letter on: Unbelievable (almost)
“I remember Lacey
Lacey was the African-American woman who for all intents and purposes raised me from age 3 to 18. She would have resisted the term African-American as she resisted the term black. ”
-Joan Downs | Madison, WI | January 20, 2009
Letter on: Can we?
“Again, you deserve credit for this article.
It has been stated that GW Bush had a higher percentage of small donors than Obama. It would be very useful to analyze, not only the totals, but the distribution of donors. Truth would be helpful.”
-John | River Falls, WI | January 19, 2009
Letter on: Can we?
“You deserve a lot of credit for this article. In my mind, this was a very important decision and not a good one. It revealed Obama to be a politician, a politician of our side, but only a politician nonetheless. In one stroke he went back on his word and an important principle and we will pay for years.
Does anyone not think that we spend a truly obscene amount of money on our elections? Does anyone believe that Obama will opt for public financing for re-election? Can anyone envision how we might get back to spending only a paltry $100-200 million on the presidential election?
Should be be enough.
The other concerning sign was his signal that an investigation of the decisions to go to war would not be undertaken. Nor would those many secret decisions on how to conduct the war and what to do with the enemy be revealed. As Krugman wrote in the NYT, this will allow many of the perpetrators to hang around until the climate changes.
Our politician, but just a politician nonetheless.”
-John | River Falls, WI | January 19, 2009
Letter on: Thanks for 82 years
“I hadn't heard about Canterbury closing. [Or Harry Schwartz either, but Canterbury is closer to my heart.] I used to stay at the B & B upstairs on my journeys to the Capital, and spent as much time in the bookstore as I could. I was saddened when the B & B was turned into apartments - but not surprised. And now the bookstore. Worrisome...
And even more worrisome is the loss of our newspapers. I'm glad to still have the Cap Times online, but I miss the actual paper. That too was a major part of my visits to Madison.
I still miss the Milwaukee Journal and the New York Herald Tribune, and it sounds like I'll be missing a lot more soon.
Don't get me wrong: I dearly love playing on the internet, but there's something about newspapers - and books - something tactile.
Progress may be inevitable - but it isn't always welcome.”
-John Smart | Park Falls, WI | January 19, 2009
Letter on: Thanks for 82 years
“Many people share your concern about the demise of newspapers. However, if we look at the history of the press in America, what we find is that for much of our history, small circulation "penny press" papers played a major role in shaping public opinion, for better and for worse. Even into the 1930's, the relatively small city of Minneapolis had three separately owned major newspapers, not to mention a host of minor publications. Corporate consolidation has resulted in the same concentration of ownership and lack of diversity that exists in broadcast media. Profit driven corporate owners have gutted the quality of content.
The internet is the new platform for information exchange. Just like the penny press, there will be many who attempt to distribute lies and propaganda in the beginning. As the platform matures, people will learn who they can trust to provide accurate information, if in fact accurate information is what they desire. If not, they can choose to receive only that information that reinforces their world view.
In my view, there was a thirty year period from roughly 1950 to 1980 during which newspapers adhered to fairly rigorous journalistic standards. To me, this was the "Golden Age" of newspaper journalism, reaching its zenith with the Washington Post's work on Watergate. Many at the time thought this was a rebirth of newspaper journalism; it was actually the last bright flash of a dying star.
I do not mourn the passing of these "newspaper companies." I mourn the end of the "Golden Age", for that is when newspapers died.”
-Tim Nacey | Maple Grove, MN | January 19, 2009
Letter on: How much?
“In 1965 I was at one of the early anti-war rallies in Madison, when William Osborne Hart pointed out to me that the police were filming the peaceful rally. He told me, in his customary civil, rational, courteous voice: "We live in a police state."
Now, after eight years of Addison, Gonzales & company's shredding the Constitution, there isn't much of a pretense otherwise.
About the "security" arrangements for the Inauguration, all I need to know is that my dentist's receptionist's daughter belongs to an invited drum-and-bugle corps for the parade . . . and all the kids, along with their families, were "investigated" by government spies and had to be "cleared" before being allowed to participate.
I'm surprised they weren't all asked to pee in a cup--but that may be next, and I probably ought not to hint at it.
Obama, then, whatever his intentions, is more of a prisoner than a President. Perhaps you saw the news item last week that Hayden, the CIA boss, is going around warning Obama not to interfere with how the Agency operates. Yes, it's OK for Cheney, Bush, and Rove to "out" a CIA agent for THEIR political advantage, but the new President had better not dare to try to actually reform any of the CIA's bad or illegal habits!
The Secret Service and other government spy agencies have become, under the Orwellian rubric of "Homeland Security," the modern equivalent of the Praetorian Guard in imperial Rome. THEY define the limits of civil liberty---and when they define it, they ONLY curtail it.
One cannot now attend a political rally for a Presidential candidate, without submitting to a warrantless search of one's person and possessions, without surrendering any home-made or hand-made signs or stickers, and with the GOP, one can't even wear shirts with slogans they don't like. Maybe with the Dems, too! Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Both Denver and St. Paul, where the national nominating conventions took place in 2008, witnessed first-hand the extent and, in St. Paul, the ferocity of this age of high-tech totalitarianism. An interesting document spells out the five successive layers of police authority deployed during the St. Paul convention.
The political conventions, historically a part of the democratic process of self-government, have been re-defined as "national security events," and the Bill of Rights abrogated for such occasions.
The same approach is, I am sure, being taken towards the inauguration. As recently as thirty years ago, the President could walk in the parade and the people could applaud and look on without the visible trappings of the police state . . . yet, as Bill Hart had been aware, the germ or the genesis of that spying apparatus already existed.
Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Obama's election changes nothing about the real power structure of the American empire.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 18, 2009
Letter on: Roll out the barrel
“I will indulge you a bit of gloating. It is your turn. However, be careful what you wish for. As I see it, the results of your "revolution" will be higher taxes, less freedom, more and perhaps grinding poverty.
You talk about economic justice. To us free marketeers, that means that Citibank and GM and others who have mismanaged be allowed the failure they so richly deserve. It should give you pause that your "progressive" buddies are so willing to punish those of us who have or had a modicum of success by giving our money to those who manipulated the money supply, and used the fraud of fiat money to steal our wealth by creating dollars out of nothing. I have no problem with those who obtain wealth honestly, without fraud, but the banksters are not it. It is unfortunate that the falling of their house of cards will hurt so many innocent people, but to bail their sorry butts out will only perepetuate the problems.
Note also that our federal government, under former Goldman Sachs CEO Paulson is dividing the spoils among his former colleagues. I do not expect much to change under Obama, since Wall St. gave him more money that the Republicans this year.
End the FED”
-Ken Van Doren | Mauston, WI | January 16, 2009
Letter on: I was wrong!
“Have you considered that perhaps it is in fact too late to change the law for a campaign going on right now? Because as far as I know, it is statutorily impossible to do so; if not realistically difficult and ethically wrong.
The election cycle for Supreme Court began at least as late as the filing deadline, which was almost the same day as the first session of the legislature, as determined by the State Constitution. At its earliest, the campaign began officially when filing began. Changing the rules in the middle of the game just is not right.
Criticizing elected legislators from a progressive angle is something that I think is vital and necessary - especially if it is done thoughtfully and insightfully. But doing so without grounding in logic, statute, and reason does not contribute to the debate.
Instead of making off-base criticism at the beginning of the legislative sessions, let's make the case for what should be done and reinforce what is being done right.”
-Peter Rickman | Madison, WI | January 15, 2009
Letter on: Roll out the barrel
“Even the Wall Street Journal via their columnist Thomas Frank is asking why Obama doesn't act like he won the election.
In 2004 George W. Bush famously said that he had earned his political capital and now was going to spend it. Reading between the lines that meant handling everything as much like a bully as his and Dick Cheney's minions could get away with.
I highly recommend that you read Tom Frank's rejoinders to the hands across the aisle notion of compromise or "centering" on anything and everything. Particularly noteworthy is the criticism of the role journalists play in this obfuscation of what it means to win and not be ashamed of it.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189731669479777.html?mod=rss_The_Tilting_Yard
The matter of selecting a cabinet from the Clinton years is an entirely different matter of shame and castigation: one which deserves attention on it's own.”
-Lon C. Ponschock | Appleton, WI | January 15, 2009
Letter on: More prisons?
“A horrible, long term fiscal consequence of the ill conceived, so called, "truth-in-sentencing" law.
We have known for years that this would happen.
-- http://sentencing.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/modelg112004_1.gif
It is so sad that this country "conceived in Liberty" has the highest per capita rate of imprisonment in the world!
-- http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_pri_per_cap-crime-prisoners-per-capita
Who is responsible for the fiscally irresponsible and liberty eroding law?
"While in the State Legislature, Scott served as the chair of several committees including Corrections and the Courts and Elections and the Constitutional Law. He authored several key pieces of legislation including Truth-in-Sentencing, ending the statute of limitations on sexual assault cases, and protection of medical privacy."
-- http://www.scottwalker.org/bio.html
Oh, the shame!”
-Joe Klein | Milwaukee, WI | January 12, 2009
Letter on: Say it ain't so!
“"Have the Senate Dems lost it?" is not impertinent, it is merely accurate.
The dismal fact that at this stage in history the leadership was placed in the hands of Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer, will be a source of lamentation for more than just Democrats in years to come.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 12, 2009
Letter on: Finding transparency
“In the interests of transparency Mr. Kraus, will you actively lobby for the passage of the Government Checkbook Disclosure Act (Wirch/Kramer/Vos, last session's AB 862) and to prohibit earmarks and non-fiscal issues in the budget (AB 739 last session, Zipperer/Leibham)?”
-Jo Egelhoff | Appleton, WI | January 12, 2009
Letter on: Then what will we do?
“I am from the East Coast and had read the NYT for years. The Albany Times Union, Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and others were almost as good.
As far as I am concerned the NYT was a cheerleader for George W. Bush. They have no credibility with me, anymore!”
-Sam | Wausau, WI | January 11, 2009
Letter on: More prisons?
“Ignorant as I might be, I figure if you're going to complain about something you should really offer some positive suggestions.
1) We're sentencing too heavily for some crimes and too lightly for others. Any person whose crimes were not violent against persons should be dealt with through house arrest, monitoring, fines and community service. People who are being violent - especially sexual violence and violence against children should do much heavier time than they are.
2) Far too many in our prison population are in actuality mentally ill and suffering from addicitons. We have to put effort in on the front end to keep these people out of the prison system.
3) We need to look at what other states are doing - no sense in reinventing the wheel. Find out who is doing it right as defined by the results, and ask what they're doing.
4) We create a large part of our problem with massive unemployment among minority men. We need to get over the idea that everybody is going to be a genetic scientist and recognize that working poor people need jobs that support families too.
5) The wealth disparity contributes to our problems by shrinking the middle class and helping to create a semi-permenant underclass. I'm not suggesting that the government step in and play Robin Hood, but wealthy people should understand that they could greatly aid social stability (and their long-term happiness) by being somewhat less wealthy and either employing more people or employing them at greater salaries. There are few things more damaging to social stability than unemployment.
6) I have to ask if we're not importing some of our troubles. There was a piece written by a Madison Police official suggesting that we've taken on too many Section 8 housing units and overwhelmed the city's ability to support lower income residents.
7) I suggest more street police. If officers were a greater presence in troubled areas, they could be a deterrant and thus a proactive influence rather than always simply reacting to problems. We'd pay more for cops, but I think it would actually cut down on the number of crimes and thus reduce prison populations. Cut criminal behavior off at a lower level - before it escalates to actions that just plain require incarceration.
8) Return non-violent illegal immigrants to their nations of origin with detailed reports of their crimes while in the US.
9) Do whatever needs to be done to curb illegal immigration. I would suggest an amendment disallowing "anchor children". If neither of your parents is a US Citizen, neither are you. If me and my wife go to Mexico and she happens to have our baby there due to some emergency, is the child a citizen of Mexico? Additionally, fine the devil out of those found employing illegals. I'm guessing when the work dries up, so will the flow of illegals.”
-Jeff | Madison, WI | January 11, 2009
Letter on: More prisons?
“One place to start are the silly drug laws. The War on Drugs is another no win all loss war just like the "war on terror".
Legalize drugs and half the inmate population will be home. These crimes are victimless with regards to society. You can not legislate morality.
I don't use drugs. My only interest is common sense.”
-Jasper | Wausau, WI | January 10, 2009
Letter on: Should we teach honesty?
“Honesty shmonesty, Madhoff is walking free with BILLIONS of dollars stashed. If one of the "Little People" snatched his wifes purse he'd be in some cell waiting to go to Rikers Island. Madhoff is in his penthouse shuffeling his spare change (watches, jewelery, art etc.) about, waiting for a stint at some federal conutryclub institution designed by corrupt politicians in case they ever "trip up". He has made his family fabulously wealthy, Powerful. What is the disincentive? If I were one of his victims I'd wait with the press corp. on penthouse stake-out and shoot the bastard in front of the entire news crew, grinning my Sunday best. At trial I'd ask for jury nullification and probably get it.”
-Russelup Somgrub | Hub City, WI | January 9, 2009
Letter on: The Shoe Index
“Some people have resorted to private, backyard impeachments, even better than shoe throwing.
http://tagyerit.blogspot.com/”
-Rick | Brookfield, WI | January 9, 2009
Letter on: New world, old ideas
“Regarding all points in your blog. As I have said before, "Same crap, different carton".
I am currently re-reading "The Hungry Years" by T.H. Watkins. One thing is clear. In the Roosevelt years change came from the bottom up. Most New Deal programs were designed by the established middle class types. It was only when working people took them seriously and started to organize unions, bust up strike breakers and shoot back at the cops and National Guard troops, etc. etc. did the New Dealers actually realize that those folks were serious about their rights as granted by law.
Power never concedes. If you want real change you have to take it into your own hands and make them listen. Obama is loaded down with bland middle class values. He may have started out poor but he is the bright boy that changes his tune when the first good paycheck comes in.
Want change? Shove it down their throats because they are not going to do it for you on their own just because they like you all that much!!
And while we are at it. When the heck will a real, progressive, third party form? What we have now are essentially grievance committees passing themselves off as Greens etc. Forget it. If you want a party then form one, and run for office like you bloody well really want it.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 9, 2009
Letter on: Burris--in or out?
“Also, since Ed probably has to be careful with advocating for a candidate on the site, I'll go ahead and play that role.
Shirley Abrahamson is an incredibly accomplished, brilliant, tough, progressive jurist. She's the Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. She's recognized nationally as a model state-level jurist and chief justice. She is the strong, high-quality, progressive candidate. You can find her website here:
http://abrahamson2009.com/
She is NOT the candidate of WMC and the right wing, which should tell you as much as my own description.”
-Peter Rickman | Madison, WI | January 9, 2009
Letter on: New world, old ideas
“The arab countries will not be satisfied until they force Israel to commit a Holocaust of their own.
Israel is in a no win situation. They are faced with wiping their enemy off the face of the earth or being wiped off the face of the earth.
Their enemies hold religious beliefs that drive them to attempt to eliminate all non-believers from the holy lands, Jews, Christians and all others.
Any attempt to intervene with negotiations will only drag this conflict out for another generation. There are no simple answers, however stopping the arms race in the middle-east is one place to start.”
-Sam | Wausau, WI | January 9, 2009
Letter on: Burris--in or out?
“1. What can Jim Doyle do about the Office of the Public Intervenor? It would have to be re-chartered through an act of the legislature. The PI was in the DOJ, not the DNR.
2. Harry Reid could screw up a two-car funeral procession, true. But this kerfuffle over Roland Burris is another distraction. It's a horserace, process story about governing. It has nothing to do with the substance of what our government should be doing in the coming weeks. The real question is not whether or not Roland Burris gets seated, but instead whether or not Harry Reid gathers the extra 1-2 votes he needs and rides herd to get passed an ambitious, bold package of progressive legislation.
And really, time to stop injecting race into this. When racial and ethnic concerns are directly related to the substance of an issue, by all means, they should be discussed. But injecting race where it is not material to the matter at hand - or worse, aiding and abetting those that are doing it maliciously - is just poor form.
Also, while the media at-large have focused on seating Burris, Mitch McConnell has been plotting how to keep Al Franken from taking the seat he rightfully win through the will of the people of Minnesota. That seems more like something a progressive muckraker ought to focus on right now.
3. Ed, you're casting aspersions upon the SEIU and labor in general with what you've noted and how you noted out. False aspersions, at that.
First off, the SEIU never had a real interest in getting Blago on board if they were looking for access to Obama. Balanoff is closer to Obama than Blago ever could be, since Obama came out of a very different political context than the governor. Blago wouldn't bring anything to SEIU and I'd be shocked if SEIU were actively considering bringing Blago on board.
Second, Stern isn't the only power within CtW. SEIU's Anna Burger, the UNITE-HERE presidents...other folks matter. Nothing really doing with the idea that this was a CtW meeting. That Blago is crazy and thought - on his end alone - that there would be something for him in CtW is just ridiculous. And no one should consider that the sentiment was mutual.
Third, Blago isn't entirely defined by his crookedness. He, like many public figures, are multi-faceted. Home care workers in Illinois for years had been second-class citizens (literally), denied the basic, fundamental right to organize to bargain collectively. An executive order by Blago granted them that right. And SEIU then organized these eager workers. Perhaps Blago, Stern & Balanoff were meeting to discuss contract issues?
Stop casting the aspersions that anyone touched by Blago is doing something wrong. While Blago might have wanted or thought he could have a job with SEIU or CtW (or anyone else), those feelings were not mutual - and they shouldn't be dragged down with him.”
-Peter Rickman | Madison, WI | January 8, 2009
Letter on: Proportionality
“Mr. Obama has been consciously trying to model himself after the example of Lincoln. Lincoln was by temperament cautious and low-key and by practice accustomed to listen to all sides and to study a problem before acting. Only when "the spirit was upon him" did he rise up and deliver one of his astonishing speeches, which now constitute his legacy . . . the speeches, and the Emancipation.
But Lincoln himself confessed not to rule events but to be ruled by them. And that's what Obama is discovering.
We don't know yet if Obama is up to the job. Like Lincoln, there may be more reverses than progress as events overwhelm him. We can only HOPE that Obama, as Lincoln did, grows into the job and resolutely pursues the important objectives.
Much as I sympathize with Israel, and much as I dismiss misplaced left-wing advocacy for Palestinian revanchism, what Israel's doing now is a blunder of, shall we say, epic proportions.
Whatever Pyrrhic military advantage is gained cannot outweigh the cost in innocent human suffering and consequently in the world's revulsion against Israel. It cannot be justified by saying that Israel's action pales next to U.S. aggression in Iraq, or Russia's onslaught in Chechnya, or the massacres in Darfur and the Congo. All that is true but irrelevant, because "since when" did two, or twenty, wrongs add up to one right?
I do not write off Obama yet. His initial steps seem too temporizing, too appeasing towards precisely those parts of the power establishment which the PEOPLE rejected in the primary and general election. I would prefer a leader with the temperament and style of FDR, or even combative Andrew Jackson, or, naturally, the inspirational and indomitable Fighting Bob La Follette. But it'll be a "Lincoln," not a "Roosevelt" in the White House garage.
Sports metaphor: There's the rookie Barack Obama . . . surrounded by Emmanuel, Reid, Biden, and a lot of retreads, shills, and second-raters. As for us, the people, we're not players. We're not even in the grandstand--can't afford tickets. We're stuck in a bar or some basement rec room, and all we can do is watch the fumbles and interceptions and bonehead plays--and groan and cuss at the t.v. set and pretend that it does any good . . . as if they could hear us, or as if they would give a hoot if they did hear us.
President-elect Obama is really smart. Keeping silent now about the mideast abattoir may be the right thing or the wrong thing to do . . . but he probably has intelligent reasons for, in effect, doing nothing about the triumph of evil.
Events rule. Events COULD have defeated Lincoln--they very nearly did--and indeed he paid the ultimate price of martyrdom. We cannot foresee Obama's destiny, other than than to know that he, too, will necessarily make some mistakes.
Remember our only other choice: McCain and Palin.”
-Oliver Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 8, 2009
Letter on: America's Sludgeland
“Where or how should we get our electrical energy? If coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear are off limits, then what? Can we dam all rivers? Can we build all the wind mills and solar panels in the locations they should be? How to we deal with NIMBY? Offer plausible and/or feasible alternatives.”
-Mark Kochanski | Fitchburg, WI | January 8, 2009
Letter on: 2009 is out of the blocks
“Bill Richardson was the best cabinet nominee? I'd love to know the measuring stick if he won out. Hilda Solis is clearly the star of the class. She's a dedicated, progressive advocate of labor and social/economic justice. Her passion for giving workers voice will mean that the Department of Labor will no longer be run to bust unions and make it easier for corporations to continue to stiff the American worker. Having Hilda Solis, an advocate and public leader with a track-record inside and outside of government, as a nominee in the Obama White House means we'll at least have a progressive voice.
***
It's not right to allow Bobby Rush to make this Senate issue about race. It never was and it shouldn't be. Affirming the injection of racial politics does a disservice to our government and the governed in this case.
***
I'm curious as to why you think five candidates for DPI will make turnout high. In the primary? More candidates don't necessarily mean more voters - or more educated voters. I do hope that the turnout is high and that people know what's at stake with the DPI election, Supreme Court election, in their municipal races, etc. But if that is going to happen, we'll need a vigorous public debate. If the media at-large won't play their role in making it happen - and I'm guessing that with but a few notable exceptions, they won't - other folks are going to need to fill the gap. Whaddya say, Ed?”
-Peter Rickman | Madison, WI | January 7, 2009
Letter on: Proportionality
“Remember, the United States of America is the only country to ever have dropped the Atomic Bomb on a civilian population.
Where is our moral authority? We have none.
As long as there is religion, armaments, over population and limited natural resources the human race will continue to kill each other.
There is profit in religion, war, population growth and the control of natural resources.
Our involvement will only make things worst.”
-Sam | Wausau, WI | January 7, 2009
Letter on: The Shoe Index
“You will find the link below great therapy if you wished you could have been the guy throwing the shoe. Enjoy!
http://www.aksalser.com/game.htm”
-Jerry | Franklin, WI | January 6, 2009
Letter on: 2009 is out of the blocks
“Burris is a hack; sorry he is "playing the race card." His maneuver is merely an inversion of the race politics of the last couple of centuries---but is it ethically and morally any better than the old pattern? It asserts that skin pigmentation trumps everything.
Plantation mentality? As much as I despise Reid as a spineless appeaser of the Thugs, I don't see any merit to the accusation of "plantation mentality" here. It is like Thug accusations that the recount in Minnesota was rigged by Mark Ritchie as a puppet of George Soros . . . total b.s.
Mr. Burris is the former Ill. Attorney General who insisted on pushing for the execution of an innocent man---such a flagrant putting of politics above justice that Burris' own deputy resigned in protest. Agreed, that miserable fact does not DISQUALIFY him from the Senate. However, if the senate doesn't seat him, don't treat Burris as some poor martyr and victim of injustice. He's just a hack. And HE won't lose his life . . . unlike what Burris intended for some wrongly-convicted poor prisoner in Illinois.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 5, 2009
Letter on: 2009 is out of the blocks
“Change is here? Not really.
The GOP is already making noises about strangling any stimulus package. Obama confuses seperation of powers by weighing in on the Burris matter. Reid and Pelosi are still in charge of the gang that cannot shoot straight. Jobs wither. Savings disappear. The rich crooks still get the dough.
As we used to say in the shipyards. Same crap, different carton.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 5, 2009
Letter on: If you can make it there you can make it anywhere...
“My truly sad thing is that I'm neither shocked nor appalled at all. Heck people kill for money on a regular basis. Why would I be surprised when people in a position to . . . errrr . . . assert their way to an extra couple million decide to do so.
The shocking part is that so many people actually try to be honest about things. If you want to see the true measure of a person's character, give him access to power. Given our crazy narcissistic culture, why should we be surprised when people in power sometimes behave like crazy narcissists?
Seems like the natural and inescapable result of our uniquely American brand of wealth and egomania. I figure the best we can do is get the folks who will still listen to us to push for as much transparency as possible then sit back and play watchdog.
woof”
-Jeff | La Crosse, WI | January 5, 2009
Letter on: If you can make it there you can make it anywhere...
“If I understand you correctly, you are hinting that Wisconsin is not "innocent." Wisconsin is naive.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 4, 2009
Letter on: Happy New Year!
“This same Roland Burris tried strenuously to execute a prisoner in Illinois, a prisoner whose guilt was so doubtful that Burris' deputy resigned in protest rather than participate in the prosecution; DNA testing later established the prisoner's actual innocence.
Of such was Mr. Burris' great service to the people of Illinois.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 4, 2009
Letter on: The Shoe Index
“Have some fun. Google "sock and awe.com".”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 4, 2009
Letter on: What remains of New Orleans
“Building a city below sea level is insane.
To rebuild the city in light of the projected rise in sea level is a waste of resources.
Construction of the city and the attempts to keep water out of it have led to the destruction of the wet lands which in fact protected the coast.
Don't mess with mother nature, to put it in terms, even the dumbest politician can understand.”
-Chet | Wausau, WI | January 4, 2009
Letter on: Is it over yet?
“I was using tweezers to set pieces of rubber type into my toy stamp-making and printing kit . . . listening to the radio which was reporting cheering, ecstatic crowds in the streets of Havana, greeting the rebels as liberators. Batista had fled. Within a few days, the radio was reporting the work of the firing squads . . . which seemed to go on for weeks.”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 4, 2009
Letter on: Biden's prediction
“With respect to Mr Steinberg and others I have to say that the problem in Israel/Palestine is not religion. It is the insane notion that one people, based on the what is said in a book that they wrote, believe themselves to be the rightful owner of certain real estate. I would suspect that if DNA analysis were done it could be shown that a modern Palestinian is more closely related to the Jews of old than many comtemporary Jews are.
The conflict here is also one of culture with modern Israelis being essentially European in culture and outlook. It is exacerbated by Zionists from abroad, often from the USA, staking a claim to land that they have no right to except for what is written in a book from their purported ancestors.
What we see now in Gaza is not that different from what happened in Warsaw in the '40's. I realize how loaded that statement is but I refuse to succumb to the "Holocaust Card" any longer.
For their part I think the time is long overdue for the Palestinians to aske the rest of the Muslim world just how long they are to be expected to be dupes. Why is it that rockets, rifles, bombs, and grenades are always in full supply but medicines, textbooks, fuel, and development loans are not?
I see two braindead sides of the same family both sired by Abraham, who, to me, is the original dead beat dad.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 3, 2009
Letter on: Happy New Year!
“Letting the Gov appoint to replace a vacant Senate seat is a democratic joke. But that's the law in Illinois.
The people get to speak later on I guess, but for the time being, Burris is in. To state or act otherwise just looks stupid.”
-Jeff | Madison, WI | January 3, 2009
Letter on: Now what, Pat?
“Does Blagojevich get five chances from Fitzgerald to get his story straight, the way Karl Rove did?”
-O. Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 2, 2009
Letter on: Optimism for a change
“Excitement and optimism are way overdue. Attitudes and actions lead to behavior that becomes that which we all want to have happen. Generally, better times. And better times for everyone at that. We could be the progressive state and set the example, show the way, and actually display a rare characteristic in Wisconsin, leadership. Indeed there is mounting hope that the future always begins with bad news as it has so often of late. Let us inspire a request by example to each and every Wisconsin native, to set an example, learn from a past mistake and do the right thing moving forward. I believe that if enough of us collectively, actually become a doer instead of a beer drinking driver our destiny fortolds, there indeed may be hope.”
-LaFay | Belleville, WI | January 2, 2009
Letter on: Is it over yet?
“Fifty years ago I was lined up against an interior wall in Catholic School, with my hands and arms over my head, practicing for when an atomic bomb hit.
I feel so much safer today. Right!”
-Chet | Wausau, WI | January 2, 2009
Letter on: Biden's prediction
“Well, "green consciousness," it seems Tom Hermann anticipated your alibi. It appears the Israeli government still fails to comprehend that their massive retaliation technique is plain and simply counterproductive. Israel's military reactions only contribute to rage and resentment among the Palestinians, and they obviously generate more sympathy for Palestinians in the rest of the world, no matter who the Palestinian leaders are [and is there any truth to the claim that Hamas was initially launched with help from Mossad? Talk about "blowback!"]
Just as Bush/Cheney aggression against Iraq lost the USA its sympathy gained after the 9/11 terror attacks, the Israeli occupation policies in west Bank and Gaza, Israeli wars against Lebanon, and the madness of tactics like the current onslaught, all have had the incredible cumulative effect of destroying sympathy for Israel, not only in the rest of the world, but even here inside the USA. Yes, American politicians and corporate news media unanimously rubber stamp any Israeli government decisions---but in doing so, are more and more out of touch with public opinion.
Informed public opinion now sees AIPAC as being as being a kind of Zionist equivalent of the NRA. This is discouraging to me, since I sympathize with Zionism. But it is not surprising. It is only a matter of time before unquestioning political support in America for anything Israel does, begins to disintegrate.
It seems to me that the root of the problem is not territory, not mid-eastern oil, not the residue of Cold War proxies in the region, etc., etc. The root of the problem is the poison of religion---that irrational psycho-social toxin which allows people to justify the most wicked atrocities in the name of God.
And for that, there seems to be no satisfactory solution. In the meantime, USA policy has to veer sharply away from automatic endorsement and defense of every Israeli government mistake.
Imagine the roles were reversed, and a Bush-Cheney-type of regime in our country were to receive automatic approval and overwhelming financial and military-logistical support from some foreign superpower; while we duked it out with, say, Mexico . . . and by extension, all of Latin America. That kind of interference would make it well-nigh impossible to get the USA back onto a better track.
It appears to me that the Israeli govt has made a huge blunder and the prospective land invasion will exacerbate it. Pres.-elect Obama, all too aware of the criticism of his limited foreign policy experience, will rely on Biden as his "go-to" guy in this mess. Biden and maybe Rahm Emmanuel. All this reinforces my belief that picking Joe Biden for Veep was NOT a smart move by Mr. Obama, as I said at the time. Or maybe it was. Because if Pres. Obama DOES reform our policies vis-a-vis the Israeli-Palestinian grudge match, then he can tap Mr. Biden to try to assuage the political side-effects in the USA.”
-Oliver Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 2, 2009
Letter on: Happy New Year!
“The record of Roland Burris in his service to the citizens of Illinois surpasses the service delivered by many of his critics. Governor Blagojevich is totally within his legal right to appoint Barack Obama's replacement and regardless what President Elect Obama says the Governor is innocent until proven guilty. I would have expected Obama to remain neutral and not condemn Blagojevich before a trial. Is this the law taught at Harvard.
The report that the United States Democratic Senators have indicated they will approve no one that Blagojevich appoints, seems to indicate that this elite group suddenly have powers that they have never exhibited when Psycho Bush appointed someone.
This is the same group of Senators who consider Joe Lieberman a Democrat, so I must question their intelligence and their ability to determine right from wrong.”
-Richard Kanak | Cherry Valley, IL | January 2, 2009
Letter on: Happy New Year!
“In regard to the Burris matter it just seems that the Dems are so inept that they couldn't make money running a cat house during a gold rush. To blame Burris for the (alleged) wrongs of Gov. B. is like blaming a bastard for the sins of the parent(s). It is completely unfair.
Someday the Dems may actually spend more time governing in an effective manner than they do cutting up their own. Until then the best we can hope for from them is some good intent without the brains or wit to actually carry it into effective action.
The Dems need the Senate majority. Give it a rest. Gov. B has not been convicted of a single thing and is still in office. Let Burris take the seat and just suck it up.”
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 1, 2009
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