January 2012
FightingBob.com readers talk back
Letter on: First some bad news
“SW: When everything is measured in jobs of present and nothing is measured in future for our great grandchildren, then we have seriously failed in our jobs as stewards and as humans.
You can't drink money. Check what actually matters in the universe. It ain't money.”
-Randy Lee | Ridgeland, WI | January 31, 2012
Letter on: When you think it can't get worse
“If a congressional salary with benefits is a hardship, what do you say about those earning $10 an hour? The more people earn, the less they understand the concept of hardship.
I would be most happy to earn half what a person in congress makes. This won't happen, of course, because I'm an older American that has been put out to pasture in favor of inexperienced, know-it-all young bucks.
Most Americans do not make half what congress pays its own.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 31, 2012
Letter on: First some bad news
“SW:
Take a good look at a map of Wisconsin sometime. We are smack dab in the middle between Chicago and the Twin Cities. Improving rail service can only help connect us to the region's economic prosperity. Walker turned down nearly a billion dollars in federal help to get the thing going. Consequently he said "no" to job growth and economic prosperity along the proposed rail corridors and for our state.
I bet if the money came from a bona fide railroad baron, Walker would be singing a different tune.
Walker has turned down other federal grant money and assistance, too. Walker is anti anything and everything that can be linked to the federal government or Democrats. He is still, however, pro-Walker.
As for those thousands of promised mining jobs, what are they going to pay? For the lucky few who do get hired, will they be able to support a family with the wages? Skilled miners Wisconsin workers are not. Skilled workers will undoubtedly come from out of state. When the iron market collapses and shipping the ore to China for smelting becomes uneconomical and workers get laid off for months if not years, what are you going to say then, go get a job?”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 29, 2012
Letter on: First some bad news
“None of you so called water and land lovers had one thing to say about Diamond Jim's choo choo train and it's potential environmental impact. Nope you were all ready to go along with ramming the project through. Then when it was killed all you could talk about was the lost jobs. It's too bad all those 1% who were the target riders lost their train. Now who cares about the 99% who not only will work at the mine but also build the equipment. You know like P&H and Cat made here in Wisconsin by Americans. I hate to clue you in but your liberal Utopia of trains, solar panels and wind mills can't be built with hemp. Your going to need steel and manufactures all of which are things you hate. The dillusional idea that you guys represent the working middle class is utterly ridiculous. The only middle class you give two craps about are the ones getting a pay check check from the taxes payers. The rest of us private sector middle class are getting sucked dry by gov't leaches and idiot whacko environmentalists forcing our jobs to China.”
-SW | Waukesha WI | January 29, 2012
Letter on: No rush to judgment
“Lets hope Walker gets to go under oath. Lies then become perjury.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 28, 2012
Letter on: First some bad news
“Joe Rose, Bad River Tribal Elder, presented a story that was not sound bites, but how Tribal folks continue to protect the land. Sometimes we forget that even with the cold air, we had a story that could not be told in three minutes, Joe spoke for over 35 minutes. Folks were respectful. Of, course noticed that you did not have a warm hat. Tribal folks with continue to speak for clean water and protect their lands. Peace.”
-Richard L. Ackley | Green Bay, Wisconsin | January 28, 2012
Letter on: Gaining momentum
“Here's a poser for everyone. Do you think Walker and his staff now have alternative email accounts that bypass state servers and open record laws? I bet they do. I bet this isn't just limited to the governor's office. If Romney could expunge his emails before leaving office, who's to say Walker, the Fitzgeralds and others aren't doing the same now?”
-Maria Caliente | Middleton, WI. | January 28, 2012
Letter on: Bankers are not bad people!
“Can't believe the way that this thing was sucked up by the national media, even the folks on MSNBC who should know better by now. Yeah, carefully timed political cover for the failed pro-Walker rally, the State of the State speech and they must have known the John Doe was coming to a boil. Somebody should check out whether there's a tie between Koch money and Marquette. Didja see Ed Schultz on Friday night? The Kochs are giving away boatloads of money to colleges and universities and exercising control over what is taught, how and by who.”
-BadgerFan2 | Hazelhurst, WI | January 28, 2012
Letter on: First some bad news
“I have tired of writing letters to the Republicans in our legislature. Not even sure they read them. I know they don't respond. Who do they represent, their constituents or those who gave them money? I fear the latter.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 28, 2012
Letter on: Gaining momentum
“Never did understand the fascination with Tommy Thompson.”
-Maria Caliente | Middleton, WI | January 28, 2012
Letter on: Bankers are not bad people!
“Please note that, despite the MJS repetition of these pollsters' claim that the survey had a ±3.8% margin of error, if you look at the their own methodology report, when it came to the matchups between Walker and his potential Democratic opponents, the margin of error jumps to ±7% - a number greater than what this poll said are the margins by which Walker leads all of his opponents. Remember, ±7% means a 14-point range (from 7 points greater to 7 points less), making the results virtually meaningless.”
-Peter Abbott | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin | January 28, 2012
Letter on: Gaining momentum
“Do you really think someone as clever and as aware as Walker would even know that his staff was doing something behind his back? The anticipation of Walker getting caught with his pants down is killing us here in the north country.
We'll be there on Wednesday. Thanks for hosting.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 27, 2012
Letter on: Bankers are not bad people!
“When you think about it, what the heck does a law school have to do with a poll? Are lawyers now statisticians?”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 26, 2012
Letter on: Got our hands full
“Issue #6- Paper ballots! The physical system of voting must be fudge proof. No hacked machines.
Visually audit-able. Ballots can be designed for optical scans for rapid tabulation...but do we really need machines we use for 1 hour every 2 years?
Issue #7- Campaign finance. A 'fair" contest will look nothing like what those of us alive today are used to. Middle school student councils insist on "fair contests". They are brief, educational & transparent. Communication in structured debates, essays in "papers of record"(free & widely circulated editions), slogan posters & rallys of equal volume.”
-Tom Larsen | Ojibwa, Wi | January 26, 2012
Letter on: People's Legislature
“Yes, We need to lay out the logic behind our cause. State, municipal and local union employees have been hurt by this administration. We need to come together in defense of our union brothers and sisters.”
-Bruce | Madison | January 26, 2012
Letter on: People's Legislature
“Google "how to webcast for free" and you come up with many choices:
http://www.ustream.tv
is but one.
Let's do it.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 26, 2012
Letter on: Bankers are not bad people!
“The poll was timed to offer cover to a failed Support Walker Rally. If you can't find live people to stand up for Scott 701 faceless individuals will do.”
-Codyworks | Rhinelander, WI | January 26, 2012
Letter on: People's Legislature
“I believe your proposal regarding the establishment and promotion of candidate forums around the state should be the primary target of this assembly. To beat Walker it's paramount that we get a state wide grass roots campaign up and running. State wide confabs will be a key component to our campaign and victory. From what I can see this meeting must be the impetus for such action. I'm afraid our state party is too orientated to fund raising being the key component of a race. While fund raising is important, it should also be obvious that we can't win the media battle if the entire war is based on advertisements. Isn't the purchase of media advertisements also the purchase of media approval? After all, the views of these high rolling Republicans are actually given credence! I'm looking for a well planned presentation on a proposal for statewide forums with discussion and adaptation by the participants so that this forum lays the basis for the task at hand.”
-dd | Hudson, Wi | January 26, 2012
Letter on: People's Legislature
“What's involved in webcasting the event live? There should be a way to do this as a convenience for anyone who cannot make the trip.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 26, 2012
Letter on: Bankers are not bad people!
“That MU poll is mighty fishy. 701 people polled? There are 72 counties in the state. Their numbers are less than 10 per county. Is the number evenly split between parties? Maybe the 701 represents 350 Dems, 350 Republican'ts and 1 Independent. Guess that's fair. I doubt there's any statistical significance to the results unless it is a conservative sponsored tool to make Walker look better than he is.
Remain vigilant until Walker is out of office. The ruses are just beginning to surface.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 26, 2012
Letter on: Less is more
“The money is an issue but a greater one is why any money at all from outside the state or a legislative district? Why are people from across the nation giving Walker or any other state politician money? What do these people get in return from Walker or the rest?
Follow the money. Is anyone doing this yet?”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 26, 2012
Letter on: Got our hands full
“Trust Mr. Obama? I have to admit that Rick Kissell warned me not to, before I cast that vote in 2008. Sorry I didn't listen.
Based on the story so far, we can trust President Obama to break every campaign promise he made, to capitulate to the Republicans at every impasse, and to turn a landslide victory and moment of historic opportunity for progress and democracy into a record of futility, betrayal, cowardice, and incompetence.
For instance: health reform. Obama took single-payer "off the table." Obama rejected the idea of letting states adopt their own single-payer models. Obama's achievement is to entrench and reward the insurance companies' pay-or-die profiteering.
It's worth noting one element of health-care reform which has shown enormous popular support AT THE BALLOT BOX, namely, allowing the medicinal use of cannabis. By vote of the people, this reform has been approved in California, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Washington state, and Washington DC., and rejected only in benighted South Dakota.
Medical marijuana got more support in California than Clinton did in 1996, more votes in Montana than G. W. Bush in 2004, and led Obama in Michigan by a quarter-million votes in 2008--in fact, carried every single one of the 80+ counties in Michigan. In other words, medical marijuana was more popular than the last three presidents IN THEIR OWN POLITICAL STRONGHOLDS.
While campaigning, and even after taking office, the word from Obama was that he wouldn't use federal law enforcement resources to attack medical cannabis programs established under state law. But now he has broken that promise, too, with a far fiercer prosecution effort than even Junior Bush ever authorized, aimed at suppressing this reform.
Talk about the height of hypocrisy--how about the spectacle of the first openly-admitted former pot smoker in the White Houser, now promoting the most discredited legal fiction of all---the DEA's pretense that cannabis is a dangerous drug with no medicinal properties, or that if it has any uses, it cannot be administered safely under medical supervision.
Instead of health care reform worth a damn, Obama gives us his best shot: Criminalize sick people, their physicians and families.
I'm reminded again of what Congressman C. A. Lindbergh, who stood with Fighting Bob against U.S. involvement in World War I, once wrote: "Of all the cowards, no other is so cowardly as the average politician."”
-Oliver Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 25, 2012
Letter on: Note to Newt
“Conundrum of the Moment:
Why do some humans make so much money just to speak or give advice? Clinton makes millions speaking. Newt makes millions advising. Mitt makes millions investing. Investment types make millions screwing others.
Meanwhile, hardworking people making $10 an hour do all the work and their jobs are usually the first to be cut when times get rough.
Look around your own place of employment. Management and supervisors come and go as they please. They hang around the water cooler or each other and yuck it up much of the day. These usually get good wages and benefits, too. Who does all the work? The ones on the bottom of the pecking order. Not only do these make less in meaningful wages, they are expected to produce 15 hrs of work for every 8 they put in.
We certainly have a mixed up sense of values and individual worth. Try to even things out and those on top are quick to yell "socialist". Leave the mess in place and the same will boast of "free market, American capitalism." Ah, life is good but only when one is on top.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 25, 2012
Letter on: It beats fiction
“The infusion of cash to Walker's pockets from out of state donors suggests that most of his support is from out of state. We voters will have the final say on whether he stays in Madison or points his nose east and heads back to Wauwautosa. There's a point when people tire of ads in the various media. Most people have their minds made up now and very few will change come election time.
I find the flowing cash amusing. The millions of dollars doesn't create jobs in Wisconsin. The dollars go to the wealthy in the state who own media outlets. Once again we have a shuffling of huge sums of money among the wealthy.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, wisc. | January 25, 2012
Letter on: It beats fiction
“Dear Raptor,
Unless corporations are one individual person, which I assume they are not, shareholders and other parties involved have no say where political money is going. Union money that is spent on political campaigns is NOT taken from dues. Members choose to contribute to those funds. I believe decisions on where such funds will be spent are often voted on.
I'm not sure where PACs fit in, I think they can be a group of individual and corporations that can be anonymous, or even an individual.”
-Linda | Wisconsin Rapids, Wi | January 24, 2012
Letter on: It beats fiction
“Raptor writes "At least these individuals can give of their own free will where as union members have no individual say where the money goes"
Ed writes about the massive flood of influence peddling undermining democracy, and your response is "individual union members don't have a say".
I own stock, both individually and through mutual funds. I have no individual say in how those corporations spend in political causes even though I am a shareholder. How is this different from your criticism of unions?
Is the CEO "giving of their own free will" when they give money to PAC's instead of to me as a dividend? When they give money to PAC's I don't support? Is it their "free will" and "their money"?
My wife worked for a company where she was pushed into donating money for the company's PAC. The PAC was for one reason- advance the profits of the company. Period. She could, by law, dictate which party the donation could go to. She picked Democratic Party. When she left the company 7 years later, she got all her "donations" back. Why? Because the company never, not once, found a single Democrat they considered to be "advancing their interests". What say does an individual employee have over who gets money?
Shareholders get no say. Employees get no say. The CEO's and big Wall Street get all the say.
Whine away, Raptor, about the big bad unions. You must be stuck living in the past. Unions are almost extinct, but go ahead and continue to pretend that they matter.
If you think your interests are the interests of the very wealthy, I hope you're one of them. Otherwise, you're just a fool.”
-Tim | Barron, WI | January 24, 2012
Letter on: It beats fiction
“please explain the difference between this corporate money to a republican and coerced union dues to democrats. At least these individuals can give of their own free will where as union members have no individual say where the money goes”
-Raptor | Milwaukee | January 24, 2012
Letter on: It beats fiction
“Reports of all the money being collected and spent surely is a distraction from real issues affecting us. If we can keep the issues in the forefront, money probably doesn't matter.”
-Maria Caliente | Middleton, WI | January 24, 2012
Letter on: Up in the air
“Bill, I agree with most of your letter. However, the recall effort had to be done. The damage the Walker administration could do in the next two years would be appalling. It is not simply the collective bargaining rights disaster, it is the dictatorial policies that he is ramming through. Not following the democratic process of government is the biggest infraction. We certainly do not need a demagogue at the head of our state.”
-Kathleen Hart | Muskego WI | January 24, 2012
Letter on: Up in the air
“Mr. Kraus knows enough about law to know that the Wisconsin Constitution does not specify that the recall process is intended only for cases of "high crimes and misdemeanors". There are no limitations whatsoever on the basis for the filing of recall petitions, and intentionally so. As Fighting Bob once said, the recall process was intended to be the "method of halting and correcting the evils of misrepresentation and betrayal." For Scott Walker to take drastic steps in the first month of his term to eliminate public employee unions without ever having so much as mentioned the issue in his campaign is clearly the type of misrepresentation and betrayal for which the recall process was intended. It is regrettable that things have come to this, but the fault lies with Scott Walker, not the Wisconsin Constitution or the people who have worked so hard over the past year to try to halt and correct the evils he has brought upon our great state.”
-Gary L. Johnson | Madison, WI | January 24, 2012
Letter on: It beats fiction
“Having just become aware of the People's Congress on Wednesday February 1, 2012 I feel a duty to attend. There are many in Western Wisconsin, St. Croix and Pierce Counties who I associate with that are of like mind who would not be able to be there in the middle of the week. For them and for the cause of reversing the gross injustices pressed upon the People by the Oligarchs I will attend.”
-Dan Hansen | New Richmond, Wisconsin | January 24, 2012
Letter on: The rise of Newt
“Good comment Peter! It's clever the way the Republicans/Neo-Cons do it - - - first they criticize the Democrats/Liberals for being egg-headed intellectuals/hippies/secular humanists/phony altruists, then second they portray themselves as the anti-thesis to those qualities... which they tacitly define as down-home/good-'ol race-and-homo-hatin/huntin-lovin AUTHENTIC types (except Mitt, who is often running against his record) who ain't perfect and jes believes the Lord will forgive them. It's deviously clever because it allows them great latitude to morph over into philandering, criminality, etc, etc, and yet maintain their 'authenticity', especially with the ever-ready redemption of the born-again believer always available...”
-Big Em | Milwaukee, WI | January 23, 2012
Letter on: The rise of Newt
“There's more amiss in our nation than just a faltering economy. Newt, Mitt, Santorum and all the others are the cancer eating away at who we are as a people. When did the seven deadly sins become qualities to be admired in candidates running for public office?”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 23, 2012
Letter on: Got our hands full
“Hi Ed,
I for one do not trust any of these guys! Where are Bernie Sanders, Dennis Kucinich, Russ Feingold, and Elizabeth Warren? And I would rearrange your issues a bit (ending war at #1, health care for all at #2). There is one more I would add -- a Constitutional amendment to end the Citizens United court decision.”
-Linda Wyeth | Curtiss, WI | January 23, 2012
Letter on: Got our hands full
“You did not include the mortgage/foreclosure mess. No resolution, no prosecutions, no nuttin! Could it be that Holder and a bunch of other Obungle appointees worked for the banks before they supposedly worked for us? Why the effort on their part to stop state prosecutors?
I have lost about 100K in home equity that was going to used to help us in retirement. That is if I can even find buyer. And I am one of the lucky ones, our place is paid off.
This is Obungle's biggest failure and all he can be happy about now is that if Newt gets the nomination he too is tainted by his dealing with FannieMae or FreddyMac or whatever the hell he was messed up with.”
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | (Glad) I Escaped, WI. | January 23, 2012
Letter on: Got our hands full
“Obama was presumed trustworthy but has failed to fulfill his campaign promises like closing Guantanamo and ending wars. Paying private contractors to be active in Iraq is not ending the war.
Healthcare is another issue where actions did not support the words. The results do not match what was anticipated. Big insurance resisted until they figured out how to game the system.
Unfair taxes will remain an issue forever since those who fund campaigns enjoy the benefits of the current program. If you have the financial ability you too can have a tax haven in the Cayman Islands.
Military spending is obscene and will not change regardless as to who is elected. The military-industrial-political complex Eisenhower warned of is here and will remain prosperous for the near future.
Our current educational policies are dictated by the likes of Ronald Reagan, who as Governor of California, destroyed what was then an example of a strong public education emphasis for all its citizens which included college.
On climate change as with the above items there seems to be little hope for any meaningful changes since our elected officials are fearful of upsetting whom they perceive as their constituents, which are not the residents who live near the waste site or coal-fired power plant.
The issue which is ignored is the obvious renewed attack on minorities as seen during the recent political debates.
The issue is black and white. The south has never forgiven the Democrats. Lyndon Johnson warned the politicans regarding this prior to leaving office.
The current crop of Republican politicians are doing extremely well at developing wedge issues which are causing a rift between those populations which in reality should be joining together to address the issues of the 99%.
Two voices, Nader and Kucinich have for years warned us of the impending troubles we now have.”
-Richard Kanak | Cherry Valley, Illinois | January 23, 2012
Letter on: Got our hands full
“Ed,
Maybe you should start your own PAC. GarveyPAC. We'll ask for money from the FightingBob base and help state and local progressive candidates get elected here in Wisconsin. We won't raise tons of cash to buy TV time, rather we'll organize people on the ground, like Lori Compas did to recall Scott Fitzgerald.
With a million plus Wisconsinites having signed recall petitions, now might be the time to test people power over money in elections.
Worth thinking/talking about?”
-Steve Carlson | Trego, WI. | January 23, 2012
Letter on: Poor Mittens
“Let's hope Mitt is history. His tax returns won't do much except wow us with how much he makes and how little he pays. Romney is doing no more than any other American taxpayer. He's using the convoluted tax code to his advantage through the help of some crafty accountants and advisors. The more wealth one has, the more advantages, loopholes and schemes there are.
It's not about his income and taxes, it's about making the tax code fair for all Americans. Those who make money and with the means should pay taxes commensurate with their ability to pay. Those who have no money or income should not.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 23, 2012
Letter on: Yellow dollars of Texas
“Yes, and all that out of state money from the 1%ers had damned well better be a major talking point for the opposition. Instead hanging a sign on Wisnotskin saying we are "open for business" Walker has hung up a sign saying "for sale to highest bidder".”
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | (Glad) I Escaped, WI. | January 22, 2012
Letter on: Yellow dollars of Texas
“It may appear Walker is running scared but he has not lost the recall election yet. Until he does, everyone ought to be running a bit "scared". The fight isn't over until it's over. Collecting signatures is a mere step before we face all the hurdles Walker and his backers will throw in the way. It's not only the unimaginable sums of money he collects from outside the state, it's going to be every trick in the book to undermine our effots. Rhetoric that may induce complacency will do us no good. These are not times for us to rest on our laurels.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 22, 2012
Letter on: Open records open minds
“Having a degree and being put in a place of prominence does not necessarily mean one has something to say. We need to listen to the voters and not the opinionated.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 21, 2012
Letter on: Good thoughts
“The Walker Fans on Facebook are suggesting that they WRITE IN Scott Walker on the Democratic primary and that if they get 50% of the vote there will be no regular election. Does anyone know if this would work? They sure are sleezy.
Won't you run again, Mr. Garvey?”
-A | Madison, WI | January 21, 2012
Letter on: Good thoughts
“Here is what I posted on a Kathleen Vinehout for Governor Facebook page on Thursday (with a couple of minor revisions):
What we need to do is get all the Democrats in a room and fight it out. The first step should be to eliminate Kathleen Falk, and the next step should be to leave that room with one candidate they can all support. I could get behind Kathleen Vinehout, or David Obey, or Peter Barca, or maybe even Steve Kagen or Ron Kind (or someone else I have not mentioned). But what I do know is that we need to go forward as a united front with someone who is not a Dane County Liberal ... which is exactly what I am! Let's put United Wisconsin -- not the Democratic Party -- back to work in picking our candidate. Walker's vulnerable (but still the frontrunner), we can't eat our own or Scooter will remain in charge -- only more angry and more destructive than before!”
-Larry | Madison, WI | January 21, 2012
Letter on: Good thoughts
“We must remain vigilant and not drop a beat. This recall election is not going to be a slam dunk. We need a strong candidate to oppose Walker or else we lose. Should we lose, consider ourselves screwed for the next 15-20 yrs. An angry electorate must not now become one that is complacent. It's not up to the other guy to get back our state, it's up to each and every one of us.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wis | January 20, 2012
Letter on: Good thoughts
“The other day in a WORT radio interview Mike McCabe mentioned how common and accepted bribery was during the first 50 years or so of our statehood. The wealthy would walk right into legislative chambers with satchels of cash in order to have their ways with elected officials. Even early governors were agreeable to various persuasions based on the amounts of cash given.
Bribery was outlawed about a hundred years ago.
What's the difference between that bribery and what we are seeing today? Whether Walker zips around the country begging for handouts or stays in town waiting for the money to roll in, these contributions are akin to bribes. No one, absolutely no one gives money away unless there is a return far greater than the amount given.
Campaign contribution limits are fine and dandy, if you can do so. The problem remains that those who have the power will simply not cede to the will of the people. We really do need to turn the system topsy-turvy and start anew. We need new people with fresh ideas and the willingness to clean house.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 20, 2012
Letter on: Good thoughts
“I'd like all candidates to discuss their thoughts on the proper power of the Governor. I've long wanted to get rid of that "Vanna White" veto; now Walker has rule-making powers that no Governor has had before. How powerful should Wisconsin's Governor be? This is an important topic for candidates to weigh in on.”
-janeofdane | Madison, WI | January 20, 2012
Letter on: Outside the box?
“I wonder how SCOTUS cons determined that corporations are people. There are no eggs, no sperm, no conception, no love, no marriage, not even any fooling around while inebriated in an old VW van. If you were to check birth records, there probably isn't a single corporation showing up, even out of wedlock. When's the last time you heard of a corporations being left in a wicker basket on someone's porch?
I've never heard of a corporation being christened or confirmed. Nor have I heard of one receiving its first communion. Wisconsin at least has requirements as to how long a person has to remain in school. Have you ever heard of a corporation attending schools public or private? Have never heard of one graduating either.
There are so many things ordinary humans (persons) do that corporations do not do nor can they.
How could SCOTUS determine corporations are people when they don't have any people traits or genetic code? Corporations aren't the product of evolution, but could they be that of Intelligent Design?”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 20, 2012
Letter on: Good thoughts
“I like the idea of having several democratic candidates to choose from in the primary, but isn't it possible for the Republicans to run a fake Democrat (as they did in senate recalls) and steal the primary from democrats by concentrating their vote on the one fake Democratic candidate?”
-tom | East Troy Wi. | January 20, 2012
Letter on: Who should oppose Walker?
“Ed, how about you putting your hat in the ring?”
-Craig Koch | Appleton, WI | January 19, 2012
Letter on: Outside the box?
“If I remember the good Sisters that taught me in the 60's, a person has a soul. Corporations have no soul. So it cannot be a person. But then again a lot of Republicans have no soul either.”
-WisconsinLiberal | Fox Valley, WI | January 19, 2012
Letter on: Outside the box?
“Quick off the Wall Question.
What about having the First in the Nation Internet/Social Networking Primary Election Campaign to choose the candidates to run against Walker?
I think it could be done for not so much money. The publicity for doing such a thing from the so-called MSM would fill in the gaps.
What say you to this?”
-Jim Kubiak | Hudson, WI | January 19, 2012
Letter on: Outside the box?
“One thing I have noticed about "guru" McCabe is that HIS name is never on the ballot. In other words he has never tried out his ideology in an actual election.
OK, I tend to agree with you that if Dems play the big money game they will likely lose because people will see them as part of the problem. But... it still takes money.
I once went to a bit of a meeting where McCabe was the speaker. I was a candidate for Assembly at the time and I more or less told the audience that all that was fine but...yard signs etc. still cost money and if they wanted a candidate who didn't take PAC money they had best cut a few checks. That seemed like some kind of epiphany to these comfortably concerned fools.
As for a bunch of forums I think that is nonsense. If people don't know what the hell is wrong by now another meeting and some break out sessions won't clarify the matter. What is it with liberals that all they want to do is discuss? Get over yourselves. Get the candidates, help them to spread the message however you can, and get the S.O.B. and his little band of hoodlums out of office. Any Dem running for office who doesn't get what the problem is by this stage of the game should just go home, shut up, and cut a check to a candidate who does.
I would also note that your own Tin Cup campaign did not work out so well. Print it if you dare Ed but when you push these ideas people need to know we have been here before and it didn't work so well. Hell, even Fighting Bob knew it took money. That is why he printed his own newspaper and charged for it. That was his fundraiser. Look it up.”
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | (Glad) I Escaped, WI. | January 19, 2012
Letter on: Outside the box?
“I agree that if the dem's and friends follow the path of money, they will lose. Many of people like myself who spent time collecting signatures heard over and over that the money and Walker were the problem. This is our fight and we don't need their outside money to remove are problem. Let's make his money the issue.”
-jeff T. | Amery, WI | January 19, 2012
Letter on: Outside the box?
“I heard Mike McCabe speak the other night to a roomful of petition gatherers. He made many thought provoking points including one about other rough times in Wisconsin history and how the people took back our state. To paraphrase Mike, we can take back the state by repeating our history of activism and progressivism. We basically did this a hundred years ago and we can do it again.
A million signatures collected is beyond the imaginations of all regardless of which side. It's more than a symbolic statement, a million angry and determined voters has much more weight and value than the money and lies of the Kochs and Walkers of the world. Our million will win back the state. Their millions will buy the cardboard boxes and cover Walker's moving expense back to Waukesha county.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 19, 2012
Letter on: Nice way to start
“I see where that "governor" Walker fellow has turned down $37 million in federal grant money to help with healthcare reform in Wisconsin. Money means nothing to Walker unless it is for his campaign coffers.
He has turned down or sent back hundreds of millions in federal grant money thus far. Wow!
How far back do we have to go until we can start moving forward again?”
-Maria Caliente | Middleton, WI | January 18, 2012
Letter on: Who should oppose Walker?
“A primary is the way to go. This recall election is not about Walker or the democrats. It's about us. This is our state, our government. We are the ones to determine who will serve our needs and interests best.
This does not require money from out of state nor do we need any organization akin to ALEC to write Wisconsin specific legislation. We do need good people who are qualified to put our state and future first.
Not only do we need a primary, we also need to educate and inform like we have never done before.
Lies and misinformation, fear and hate, divisiveness and obscene contributions are not needed for Wisconsin to select it's government or those who will work for us within the government we define.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 18, 2012
Letter on: Nice way to start
“Estimates are that the recall election could easily cost upwards of $100 million. Where does the money come from and where does it go? It comes from the wealthy and goes back to the wealthy. It doesn't create jobs nor does it trickle down to the masses.
Obvious to me that we are being manipulated by what money can buy. Thankfully money cannot buy wisdom or common sense.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 18, 2012
Letter on: Who should oppose Walker?
“"Should any party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are H.L. Hunt (you possibly know of his background), a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." Pres. Eisenhower in a letter to his brother Edgar Nov. 8, 1954
So here we are almost 60 years later facing this same crack pot ultra right "tiny splinter group" Eisenhower so disdained. Hunt was a notorious John Birch Society member, an outfit to which the Koch brothers father Fred is credited with providing the initial funding. We even have Walker getting a big chunk of his support out of Texas.
I agree with you Ed. The winning strategy has two key components, run on a shoestring and use Walker's money against him and have a wide open primary on our side. If the people of this state can get a million signatures on a 100% grass roots basis, then we can run a winning campaign on a shoestring highlighting the outrageous anonymous funds Walker must rely on.
As to who we put up? let's rock and roll. My guess is that the people are looking for someone who can legitimately claim they have some fight in themselves, like someone from our senate, not one of our well known pols whose primary claim will be name recognition or access to money, which will only be a pittance now anyways. The process will be the campaign. As to the polling, I agree it will be suspect, emphasizing who has name recognition, not who can address the issues in a winning manner.”
-dd | hudson,wi | January 18, 2012
Letter on: Who should oppose Walker?
“Thanks for the interesting commentary. It is vitally important that the wishes of the people who worked so hard to force a recall are reflected in their candidate. As you say, it will take lots of energy and enthusiasm to beat Walker because we can't compete with dollars. Perhaps a series of statewide forums need to be held to design the platform. What do we want? Then we can evaluate the candidates on their ability to lead on those issues. We may not know who we want but I think we do know what we want. Let's use get that in black and white and see how the candidates respond to it.”
-Sheila | Madison, WI | January 18, 2012
Letter on: Will the truth set us free?
“4-6 hour events in each county, 1 to 2 hour debates
LIVESTREAMED & archived. Issue driven. I like the Bobfest model to have speakers to educate on the issues, some music & food. Fighting Bob's Wagon Train to the New Political Frontier...Occupy your seat! No money!, No baloney!, No kidding...
Whoa Nelly!”
-Tom Larsen | Ojibwa, Wi | January 18, 2012
Letter on: Time to fight or time to give up?
“Russ Feingold, perhaps, was a tailor-made candidate for this strategy, given his history on campaign finance, and his status as an already known quantity to almost all long term residents (so, less capability for all those ALEC millions to smear him).
But unfortunately he is not running, and I fear for any other candidate it would be political suicide. The stakes are high here for the rest of the nation, and $ will flow in from outside the borders on both sides. IMO we would be foolish to refuse the share (even though a minority of the total, yes) that comes our way.”
-David Wilson | Oshkosh, WI | January 17, 2012
Letter on: Tax time
“To the best of my knowledge, the Supreme Court, when they made the Citizens United ruling unleashing unlimited corporate spending on political campaigns said that this should be corrected in the tax code. Isn't that a good enough reason for tax reform?”
-Greg Miller | Milwaukee, WI | January 16, 2012
Letter on: Time to fight or time to give up?
“Here's what I pasted on Facebook in response to Bill Christofferson's dismissal of your idea:
I think the difference between Ed's campaign and today is the difference between the early days of the nuclear arms race and its peak during the early 80's. In the beginning neither side had enough weapons or delivery systems to fight an ...entire war with them. That would have to be done conventionally with nuclear devices reserved for a few strategic events. In terms of campaigns, we are now at the point of mutually assured destruction with one side having an advantage but both sides capable of "bouncing the rubble" multiple times. The Republicans advantage today comes from having a very simple and direct message delivered through party front media such as Fox News etc.
I suspect this is why both sides are now putting money into GOTV, research, and other activities since the war of TV ads has reached a point of being counter productive.
A shorter way of saying what I just said is that Ed is proposing asymmetrical warfare. If it didn't work, we would have won in Afghanistan by now.”
-Art Hackett | arthackett@yahoo.com | January 16, 2012
Letter on: Circus loses brightest clown
“If you could bring yourself to vote for a Republican in this current era of nasty politics, do not call yourself a Democrat.
The only Republican who deserved a Democrats vote is the man whose memory is honored at Fighting BobFest.”
-Richard Kanak | Cherry Valley, Illinois | January 16, 2012
Letter on: Tax time
“So the tax code should not be used to implement welfare subsidies for wealthy individuals and powerful corporations? Be careful what you ask, lest the tax code also not be utilized to subsidize the not-so-wealthy but powerful middle class voting bloc.
Given the now obvious fact that government subsidized housing was a factor in our present woes, you admit that maybe the mortgage interest deduction is questionable. Now add other federal income tax advantages in home ownership such as the property tax deduction, the capital gains exclusion, and the nontaxation of imputed rent and I think you are on to something. Maybe if these tax expenditures were ended the middle class would become more compassionate towards the poor through relaxation of exclusive zoning and building codes allowing the homeless to build their own affordable and alternative home without mortgages.
Then there is nontaxable employer-provided health insurance in lieu of taxable wages. This has to be the biggest hurdle in equitable health reform. Who needed to risk such a welfare bonanza just for an equitable system that included everyone? Thank goodness! As long as the voting majority of workers receive health insurance through employers, there is no need to reform this middle class tax expenditure. Instead, tax the wealthy minorities even more. That's what a democracy is all about.”
-Ernest Martinson | Hayward Wisconsin | January 16, 2012
Letter on: Time to fight or time to give up?
“Didn't you (and Barbara Lawton) try something like that when you ran for governor in 1998? (People could actually give the ticket $400 -- $100 to each of you in the primary and again in the general.) How'd that work out? Tommy got 60% of the vote.”
-Xoff | Milwaukee, WI | January 16, 2012
Letter on: Tax time
“Good questions. Also -
Get rid of the Uniformity Clause of the Wisconsin Constitution. This means that some luxury class golf nut from Illinois pays the same rate of property tax on his second, out of state home, that a mill worker in Wisconsin pays on his primary residence.
It too esoteric to call it a transaction tax. Me buying a gallon of gas is a transaction. What is should be called is what it actually is. A speculation and it should be called a Speculation Tax. That puts it in the same league as the GOP "Death Tax" when it comes to rhetorical punch and is a far more accurate statement.”
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | (Glad) I Escaped, WI. | January 16, 2012
Letter on: Time to fight or time to give up?
“It's hard to take your column very seriously when there are so many misstatements in it. Granted they are small, but for instance you say Walker will be the first person recalled in Wisconsin history. What?!?! Were you no paying attention last year when we recalled two Republican Senators (and there have been a handful of successful recalls before that, like George Gary who was so crooked sometimes his name even got reversed). But I suppose it makes sense you want to ignore last summer. As sad as it is to admit, the summer was a success because Democrats and their allies mustered the resources to put up a fight. They did not do as you suggest, throw up their hands in frustration about not being able to compete and cross their fingers hope that by not spending a dime and educating voters about the choice out there while spending not a dime.
We must take this fight across Wisconsin and while the funding system is broken it still costs something to get the job done.”
-Joel | Madison, WI | January 16, 2012
Letter on: Time to fight or time to give up?
“Remember Blago, that former Illinois governor? He got into trouble for trying to sell Obama's Senate seat. What's the difference between what Blago tried and what the Kochs are doing? The Kochs and others are buying our elections. This should be just as criminal as selling a congressional seat.”
-Maria Caliente | Middleton, WI | January 15, 2012
Letter on: Food money
“Good to hear from Jim Goodman.
Here in Port Washinton, Wisconsin, we have started a Winter Farmers Market, giving our local vegetable farmers a chance to get their wares (meat, veggies, etc.) to people who want to purchase safe food. It has been a grand success, and a great addition to summer farmers markets all over the country. Not one, but two community gardens, are also in the process of being started. The localization of the food system is the issue.”
-Marliss Rogers | Port Washington, Wisconsin | January 15, 2012
Letter on: Time to fight or time to give up?
“I for one like your idea Ed, and --- with the right candidate --- it might just even work! I know it's not 100% analogous, but I like to refer to the 2010 CA governor's race where Jerry Brown spent 'only' $36M vs Meg Whitman's $177M*, but Brown still prevailed. IF we could get a candidate who really did NOT come off as a stereotypical Democratic insider/machine candidate, who really was authentic when he/she said that they weren't accepting donations over$100, it would dovetail well with the strong anti-Walker/anti-Koch Bros sentiment, and could neutralize much of the Republican's anti-tax/anti-spend rhetoric that they use to obfuscate their true platform.
* http://tinyurl.com/6tb9srm”
-Big Em | Milwaukee, WI | January 15, 2012
Letter on: Time to fight or time to give up?
“Any democratic candidate running for governor should refuse all monies from outside the state of Wisconsin(and any union money, so the republicans can't try and play that card). My US representative for the 5th district, Sensenbrenner recieves over 90% of his campaign contributions from outside the 5th district and over 85% from outside the state of Wisconsin. How can he faithfully represent his constituants?”
-Dole O'Mite | Waukesha County | January 15, 2012
Letter on: Freedom of choice?
“Same deal with public employee unions and forcing recertification votes that thus far have resulted in many teacher unions recertifying. Same deal with Walker's "study" of WRS that may result in switch to defined contribution rather than defined pension AND may result in teachers being able to not pay into the system, which over time can cause the whole system to corrode.”
-Bob Franze | Waukesha, Wi | January 14, 2012
Letter on: Freedom of choice?
“If the Kochs, corporations, the Right, conservatives, the wealthy, etc, would have it their way, they'd roll back the clocks and have serfs and slaves again. In a very real way, modern workers are slaves to jobs that they hate, jobs that don't matter and do not satisfy. It's not called slavery anymore. Many folks call this "employment."”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 14, 2012
Letter on: Keeping up with Mississippi
“The problem you lefties have is this new medical device called a ultra sound. Every person I know brings in their ultra sound pics to show their SON or DAUGHTER not a mass of disposable tissue that their wife still hasn't decided to keep or abort. The ultra sound has changed people's views on abortion. You don't have to be religious to believe its a person after seeing its heart beat , move , and even suck its thumb.”
-SW | Waukesha,WI | January 14, 2012
Letter on: For heaven's sake stop telling the truth!
“Is it just me (and my perception from an admittedly left/progressive point of view), but doesn't it seem that if a Democrat or liberal/progressive/leftist/whatever the hell we are says things like 'venture capitalists are non-producing remoras' or 'war is nasty, ugly, and thoroughly repulsive and should ONLY be done as a last resort for defense', we're obviously attacked by the righties (read: Republican party), but we're also discounted by the MSM as unrealistic idealists, hippies, or other denigrations? But if the Republican attack ads or candidates (i.e.; Ron Paul's anti-war blurbs) say the same thing, the MSM treats them as a serious statement even though they may not support them. It seems like these are media templates that repeatedly get applied, even though they're long since expired...”
-Big Em | Milwaukee, WI | January 13, 2012
Letter on: Keeping up with Mississippi
“I can't imagine why there are any republican women given how much republicans seem to hate women. I figure it *has* to be some sort of Stockholm Syndrome.”
-Amazed | Ridgeland, Wi | January 13, 2012
Letter on: Vultures unite!
“Romney is the Great Obfuscater. Not only is he out of touch with the ordinary American, he is out of touch with an ability to think. What Mitt is not telling us is that corporations are now our government and when he is president, he will make sure it stays that way.
When ordinary Americans become so impoverished that they no longer can contribute to the wealthy, how will the wealthy ever make it all work?”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 13, 2012
Letter on: Keeping up with Mississippi
“Dear Charles,
Regarding abortion as a wedge issue, I would have agreed with your assessment two years ago. No longer. The crazies (Religious Right) are in charge of the asylum (Republican Party). It is payback time. This is the issue dearest to their hearts, along with contraception, the sexual revolution, and women's rights generally.
Basically, they want to undue any progress since the 1960's.”
-Linda | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | January 13, 2012
Letter on: True believers ascendant
“"The guilt-ridden socially conscious will sacrifice initiative and creativity, even personal liberties to create their edenic version of what life on this planet could be
Truth seekers understand that "life" is a prerequisite to " initiative and creativity" which are your redundant references to personal liberty. In a finite, actual world, there is competition for resources. Life trumps liberty in the logic of our Declaration of Independence.(See "general welfare" in The Constitution)Secure right to life for all -even if it hinders the complete liberty of some-is not some unsubstantiated "belief". Without life, even symbolic effort at liberty is impossible.
The happy pursuit of massive wealth and power prove fundamentally at odds with the core principles of our Nation when food, shelter, and medical care are out of reach of the poor and powerless.(resources upon which life depends)
Before you point to your bootstraps, take note that the phrase:"pursuit of life and liberty" is
not the proposition. There will be richer and less rich, but there should not be life threatened and powerless. There should not be royalty, an upper class, where the law does not apply and with no fiduciary responsibility to their fellow man.”
-Tom Larsen | Ojibwa, Wi | January 12, 2012
Letter on: Keeping up with Mississippi
“My sign on February 14th march with the TA's from the union to Walker's office: Wississippi? You betch'a! Stop this NOW! (I am a 60-yr. old teacher from Antigo, however). This is what I was talking about, along with destroying one of the best public ed systems in the world.”
-Bruce Powell | antigo WI | January 12, 2012
Letter on: Keeping up with Mississippi
“Another, largely unchallenged, myth that pervades today's political discussion is the idea that the Republicans would ever actually enact anti-abortion legislation. Abortion (along with guns and gays) always was and remains a wedge issue - a useful diversion the Right uses to distract the rabble from the real economic problems of the day.
Consider what would happen if the bible thumping class ever found their wildest dreams fulfilled with a reversal of Roe v. Wade. Might not many of them begin to take a hard look at their collective economic condition? And might they not like what they see? Ya think? The Republicans know this, and are thus highly unlikely to allow their pet wedge issues to ever become law. These are much more useful in their present, potential form. And the bible thumpers continue with their wretched lives, never suspecting how neatly they're being had.”
-Charles Kuehn | Fall Creek, WI | January 12, 2012
Letter on: He created 100,000 jobs. Yah, sure.
“Hmmmm. It's Rick Perry--a Republican-- who comes up with the line tagging Bain as "vulture capitalism, not venture capitalism." It's Newt Gingrich--a Republican-- who savages Romney's record.
Why couldn't the Democrats do likewise? Where is their voice? Why can't they at least coin some catchy sound bite or biting slogan---if even the hapless Rick Perry can do so?
The politically-tone deaf, pusillanimous pushover in the White House of course wouldn't be expected to pitch in at this point, due to the fine points of Presidential protocol, but where are all the stand-ins and surrogates who ought to be out there?
Nationally, the Democrats stand mute and moonstruck, and when the Romney-Santorum ticket comes at them, bolstered by Frankenstein super-PACs and honed to a keen edge by this prolonged primary contest, it ain't going to be pretty.
I suppose the Democrats lack the ability to talk to the American people in plain language mainly because the Democrats don't stand for anything anymore, except capitulation and self-abasement.
Those liberals who have wanted to take a stand have been treated as the primary political threat to President Obama. Obama has sold out, short-changed, and double-crossed his supporters far more than LBJ ever did back in the 1960's.
Environment? So sorry. Civil liberties? Forget it. Foreign policy? Same old imperialism. Torture and Guantanamo? "God Bless America!" Science-based policies? Not for women's reproductive rights. Drug policy reform? Nope, all-out war against, guess what, MEDICAL use of cannabis. Health care? Not even a tenth of a loaf--just insurance company profiteering. Jobs and economic justice? It's Sumner and Geithner's department: feed Wall Street first, and keep shoving those so-called free trade treaties through.
What crumbs do we get from Obama's contemporary Feast of Belshazzar? Why, gays and lesbians are now free to serve openly in the perpetual Oil Expeditionary Corps, and get themselves blown to smithereens for the ultimate profit and pleasure of the Koch brothers and associates.
Did anyone notice that 20% of NH Democrats voted for nonentity protest candidates on Tuesday? Obama got only 80% in his virtually uncontested primary. Where is Eugene McCarthy when we really need him? Dead, alas, as all the old heroes seem to be.
So Daley is scuttling back to Chicago, where one supposes he'll enjoy teaming up and dividing the spoils with Emmanuel. I suspect Daley wasn't pushed. I think he jumped . . . he knows what's coming. The phrase is: "A rat deserting the sinking ship."
Who's taking Daley's place in Washington? It won't matter; these phony Democrats are interchangeably clueless. The Splendid Spineless One in the White House is so feckless that he'll manage to forfeit his mandate from 2008 and lose to the most synthetic of all possible foes. And he'll have only himself to blame.”
-Oliver Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 12, 2012
Letter on: He created 100,000 jobs. Yah, sure.
“Don't forget, Mr. Romney belongs to a church that takes in millions from its members and refuses to release financial statements to its members. Perhaps not releasing his tax returns is divine influence.”
-Mark | Madison, WI | January 11, 2012
Letter on: Beware of peace mongers
“One of the problems we have in this country is that there are MANY armchair generals (even wearing uniforms) and not nearly enough warriors.
People with serious martial arts training know that to strike a blow is to lose. The act of war, you see, is graphic display of failure.
Mere mortals can read Sun Tzu for a treatise on this.
If you want to change things, this truth must become the norm in thought, word and deed. People must become warriors, not soldiers.”
-Randy Lee | Ridgeland, Wi | January 11, 2012
Letter on: Mitt's fleeting moment
“All this GOP infighting and nonsense make Obungle look like a progressive, which he most certainly is NOT. He just conned a bunch of folks into thinking he is.
The groupthink among the Obamapologists and Democrats will allow him to skate along without having to CHANGE and that is bad for the Dems as they will continue their rightward drift due to the lack of competition from the left. After all, an Obungle that is little more than BUSH III looks good compared to the Loony Bird GOP. That is bad for Dems and real progressives.
After all, competition is the mother of improvement. At least that is what the free marketeers tell us. Obungle and the Dems have no competition from the left. None.”
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | (Glad) I Escaped, WI. | January 10, 2012
Letter on: Beware of peace mongers
“I'll 100% second what PH says above. ("The Shock Doctrine" is an excellent book, and I can also recommend "War Made Easy" by Norman Soloman, "War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning" by Chris Hedges, and "House of War" by James Carroll as definitely excellent books, all with an anti-war thrust, so you'll never have to worry about waiting for Republicans to return them to the library!). War is just SUCH a horrible diversion of human energies and wealth, and it destroys many members of whole generations. Unfortunately, in the real world it MAY be necessary for a country to fight a war IF they're attacked, but that's a 180 degree position from what the US has been doing since 1812, with the exception of 1941. We've almost invariably been the aggressor, especially since 1945. Now we're very consciously and blatantly being manipulated into a contrived war with Iran (or at least applauding Israel when they attack Persia). It's SO pathetic that this can still happen in such a technological age where we have EXCEPTIONAL communicational modes, but too many people are behaving like it's the 1800s...”
-Big Em | Milwaukee, WI | January 10, 2012
Letter on: Beware of peace mongers
“WW I and WW II lead to advances in agricultural machinery as did the Viet Nam war. All three wars also lead to improvements in trauma medicine, with Viet Nam teaching us more about amputations than all of previous medical history. The most recent wars have shown our government and business how to better control the American people for their profits and lead to our loss of rights.
Peace is easy, our government and it's puppet masters just don't want it.”
-Dole O'Mite | Waukesha County | January 10, 2012
Letter on: Mitt's fleeting moment
“These must be the end times if this is all the Republican't party can offer voters. Quite possibly one of these yahoos will become POTUS. let's hope not.
What must concern us is the future of the supreme court. If one of the above bozos gets elected, you can be damn sure that he will be in a position to appoint at least 2 to SCOTUS. Are you ready for a good 20-30 years of conservative decisions in the judiciary? This is perhaps more significant damage than merely voting for someone other than Obama.
A conservative majority in SCOTUS will undermine the past 60 years of progress. The cons will erode our rights, destroy the environment and hand over the country and our very souls to the rich and powerful.
A vote for any candidate is a vote for the future of SCOTUS.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 10, 2012
Letter on: Beware of peace mongers
“Wars do more for the spread of corporate power than does peace. Wars distract our attention and weaken us. They numb our sense of what is best for humanity. Is it any wonder that corporations and the powerful can then take over and get a solid foothold in our lives? Read Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein. It's all there. Is this the kind of world we want for now and forever? At some point one would expect the system to implode. It will. It's only a matter of when.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, WI | January 10, 2012
Letter on: I am not making this up
“One of the most interesting things about WI politics: What Thompson did to the poor, Walker is doing to the middle class. Unfortunately, people today have trouble putting things into context -- especially when it comes to politics and policy. Historically, when the richest few gained too much power, the poor and middle classes united to push back, to the benefit of both. Not this time, as the middle utterly turned their backs on the poor years ago. As for Thompson, as much as he was adored by WI news media, he was well criticized by national media, regarded as mediocre at best, and often as a blowhard and a buffoon. That sort of thing could put a damper on a senate campaign.”
-DHFabian | Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 | January 10, 2012
Letter on: I am not making this up
“PBS will stream Moyers' new show, which doesn't have a spot in their line-up. Time to stop thinking about PBS and NPR as anything other than organs of the house, and we aren't the house.”
-Scolomin | Franklin, WI | January 9, 2012
Letter on: I am not making this up
“Ed,
Any chance you might be able to persuade Bill Moyers to start a third party run for president?”
-blurondo | Wauwatosa | January 9, 2012
Letter on: I am not making this up
“Ed,
Any chance you might be able to persuade Bill Moyers to be one of the keynote speakers at this year's Bobfest?”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 9, 2012
Letter on: True believers ascendant
“"Right" or "correct"? There is a difference, you know.”
-Julia Green | Montfort, Wisconsin | January 9, 2012
Letter on: True believers ascendant
“THANK YOU, MR. KRAUS! You have a expressed a sane and reasonable opinion that is shared by so many people yet seldom expressed in the media coverage of politics. I sometimes think that if a successful third party ever arises in America, it will be created by all the moderates who feel left out of current party politics.”
-Ms. Moderate | Madison, WI | January 9, 2012
Letter on: Santorum to the rescue
“So, you think Santorum is scary? How about all the loonies and fearmongers who back him? Now, that would be my definition of scary.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 8, 2012
Letter on: MB&F
“Ralph, to answer your question, I think you did misstep somewhere. I empathize with your extreme statement that Wisconsin is in the grips of a fascist regime. Any entrepreneur must surely share in that empathy. But you misstep when you then say the free-marketeers are not chastened by facts. The fact is that a free market contrasts sharply to a fascist regime.
In a fascist regime, government controls an economy which is nominally private. This is somewhat similar to socialism where government controls the economy by owning it. An example here is the public school system. Government control freaks soon realized that in this country, the American public must be seduced mainly through incremental fascism with an insidious indoctrination through government schooling until citizens became passively dependent on the new god of government.”
-Ernest Martinson | Hayward Wisconsin | January 8, 2012
Letter on: Santorum to the rescue
“I think Little Ricky would benefit from some quality time with a field pack and a rifle.”
-nonheroicvet | Disgusted, WI | January 8, 2012
Letter on: Food money
“Learn to garden. Plant an extra row for those who are hungry. We can do this. It's a myth to think we need corporate farming to sustain and nourish us.”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisconsin | January 7, 2012
Letter on: The gang that can't spend straight
“Saw a puzzling bumper sticker. Walker for President. What's this supposed to mean? Are there people who want to destroy the country as well as our state?”
-Georgia | Montello WI | January 7, 2012
Letter on: The gang that can't spend straight
“And Aurora keeps expanding and building new facilities throughout the area. How can a business exist if it continually shows a loss?”
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley, Wisc. | January 6, 2012
Letter on: Food money
“'nuff said.
All true.
Jim you are definitely a Good man.”
-TomE | Cross Plains, WI | January 6, 2012
Letter on: Romney! Wow!
“You mean Mitt's landslide is not a clear mandate? I thought that this was one of the bonuses a Republican't got for squeaking through an election. I don't even want to think of Mitt as POTUS. It could happen, sadly.
As for Santorum and his hangup about sex, I am beyond belief anyone in the 21st century can think so wrongly. I wonder if he trots off to the confessional the day after having sex just to clear his mortal soul for having too much fun. If no conception occurs, would this be a venial or mortal sin? I sort of forget. I now know what the missionary position is: Santorum on a mission.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 5, 2012
Letter on: MB&F
“We need to restore integrity to the judiciary and to those who serve both as judges/justices or attorneys. If anyone is found to have violated ethics, let's suspend their licenses for several years. Included in this should be the firms for which the less scrupulous work. I bet firms and their hirees would become extremely ethical if this be the results. Imagine a firm like MBF that could not function as a business in Wisconsin for a few years. Good idea. Another dream that won't happen.”
-Maria Caliente | Middleton, WIsconsin | January 5, 2012
Letter on: MB&F
“Mr. Garvey:
Here's how I commented on the MSJ article about the Seventh Circuit's latest ruling regarding Republican redistricting:
The point here is that Wisconsin Republican state legislators have been doing some sneaky, under-handed things in re-drawing the state's voting districts.
State Democrats have done it too, admittedly.
However, the Democrats' rationales for how they've done it have always been open to public scrutiny, I do believe. The current Republican rationales are not.
That's the difference.
And that's why the Seventh Circuit's decisions were so clear and harsh.
Wisconsin is in the grips of no less than a fascist regime. They (meaning Scott Walker, the Fitzgeralds, et al.) are driven by Ayn Rand-ish "free market" principles that should now be utterly discredited after the abject failure of the Bush/Greenspan policies.
But the free-marketeers have not been chastened by facts. They have instead "doubled down" on the failed policies. Why? Because those policies did not fail the rich. They only failed everybody else. And everybody else doesn't count.
In any event, let's see how Michael, Best & Friedrich respond.
The future of their big-ol' tower down on the river in Milwaukee may depend upon it.
(I wish Solomon Juneau's old huddle of shacks still stood there -- dilapidated, but honest.)
Did I misstep anywhere?
Apologies if you're getting this twice. The first time I tried to send it, the "thing" just suddenly "poofed" off my screen and I didn't know what happened to it.
Anyway.....
Respect and regards,
Ralph
Hillsboro”
-Ralph Novy | Hillsboro, Wisconsin | January 4, 2012
Letter on: MB&F
“Romney is a liar only in that he claims he has no control over the SuperPAC. What he (or it) SAID about Newt is true, and if Newt had the resources he would have, and will do, the same to Romney. And that too will be true.
Santorum? So what. Religious Loony Tune Robertson won Iowa and so did Huckabee Hound. Iowa is like the rest of the United States as Cheez Puffs are to food.”
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | (Glad) I Escaped, MB&F and WI. | January 4, 2012
Letter on: MB&F
“Of course in his glory days it never occured to Newt to be careful in what you ask for.”
-nonheroicvet | Disgusted, WI | January 4, 2012
Letter on: We lost a game not our soul
“Ah, if only it were true that he were the LAST soldier to die. Unfortunately, it is not. He is merely the most recent.”
-Richard S. Russell | Madison, WI | January 3, 2012
Letter on: We lost a game not our soul
“Way to go Badgers. Great season! Unbeleivable that the JS would rag on the Badgers. Of course most sports writers are wannabe jocks that couldn't make it on the field. I would say that the Badgers played with a lot more class and sportmanship than the Ducks. Go Bucky. Oh yeah, and Bucky band was way better than Ducky band.”
-Jim Swanson | Menomonie WI | January 3, 2012
Letter on: Goodbye, 2011
“In the past, when the richest few gained disproportionate power over government, the poor and middle classes united to successfully push back. Not this time. What the rich are doing to the middle class today is what the middle class already did to the poor. This is something that really deserves some public discussion.”
-DHFabian | Fort Atkinson, WI | January 3, 2012
Letter on: Three wishes (and some other stuff)
“And I wish the nightmare were over. I have the same raw feeling in my gut as when Cheney and Bush were in office.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 3, 2012
Letter on: We lost a game not our soul
“I'm very concerned that Walker and the Fitz boys will read into the Badger defeat wrongly and consider it a mandate to undo more of our state treasures.
Yikes!”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | January 3, 2012
Letter on: We lost a game not our soul
“Go ahead, Ed. You are right. Give them a Harry Truman, and instruct them to "Grow the hell up," and stop their damn whining." UW achieved being among the TWO TOP SPORTS TEAMS that got to play at the Rose Bowl. Critics of children's and college sport teams and games are side-line-would-be-macho-experts-on-sports-coaching-of-the-world. They need to put their beer (s) down and audition for an NFL spot....get in a pro game, rah rah. They need a little experience before they share their love of the game. Puleeze.”
-hmj | madison, wi | January 3, 2012
Letter on: Three wishes (and some other stuff)
“I wish there was a superior being dispencing justice to humanity.”
-ed nightshade | montrose,wi | January 3, 2012
Letter on: When it rains it pours
“Well, if it isn't a gift, then clearly it's bribery.
Take your pick.”
-Randy Lee | Ridgeland, WI | January 1, 2012
Letter on: When it rains it pours
“Maria, Scotty Boy did get caught with his pants down for real when he fell for that bogus phone call from "David Koch." And what happened? Flat nothing beyond a couple paragraphs on page three of the aveage newspaper, and a lot of preaching to the choir on the liberal blogs. It got quickly and summarily swept under the rug. I have little hope we'll hear any more about this particular gaffe - especially since, unlike the Phone Call, it involves mere deceit without any real illegality.”
-Charles Kuehn | Fall Creek, WI | January 1, 2012
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