May 11, 2008
Thank you
Every day for the past five years FightingBob.com has posted a Blog or two and refreshing articles you have sent to us. You are a big part of our success and we thank you. Take today as proof. Read the latest from our regular weekly guest blogger Bill Kraus: "Lawyers in love (with the status quo)." Kraus takes on the lambs in the bar association and forces us to think about the independence of the judiciary. Imagine that!
Then our regular contributor of the written word, John Smart signs in with "Senile as a Fox." He raises the question, will Cheney and McCain team up to invade Iran to help get McCain elected? They are capable of such mischief but could they actually be in the planning stages? John Smart's article will give your Mother's Day brunch group something to chew on.
Cost of War: Lest we forget, the occupation, killing, maiming, and bombing, continues. To this day, the war has cost us $518.7 billion. That is $4,691 per household, 1,721,000 per person; and $341 million per day. Yikes! Kind of puts a damper on your $600 stimulus package. Gas? $5.00 coming up?
Hooray for Eric Gagne. For non-sports fans he is possibly the best pitcher in baseball to save games. (If the Brewers are leading in the 9th inning, it is his job to stop the other team--and save the victory.) He is not doing so well of late. The blame? Grab your seat, I'm not kidding, he blames himself. He said, "I don't deserve the 9th inning right now." Wow! Imagine if the Bush administration were blessed with that much humility. Gagne for Secretary of State!
We are getting excited about Fighting Bob Fest VII on September 6. A new approach this year as we turn words into action. Stay tuned.
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May 10, 2008
BLACKWATER again
It screams off the morning paper--Another contract for the discredited mercenaries! Why? Well, "We cannot operate without private security firms in Iraq," says Patrick Kennedy, an undersecretary of state. Think about that statement. Blackwater, under investigation on several fronts: murder, rape and tax avoidance--but we can't live without them? Yikes!
Decision time. Institute a draft or end the occupation. One or the other, but our proud nation cannot permit these scofflaws to represent us. (I suppose the Blackwater folks wear flags in their lapels, but that isn't enough.)
We are going broke, the dollar keeps falling, gas is inching up to $5.00 per gallon, and we pay $10 billion a week on the occupation. And John McCain says, "Don't worry, be happy."
Speaking of McCain, I had not been thinking about his wife's sources of income until she announced, defiantly, "I will never release my tax returns." Really? Now I am curious. You?
Sandra Day O'Connor, in a talk to Marquette University faculty and students, has concluded we should appoint judges not elect them. (I guess Scalia, Thomas, and Alito should convince us that appointment is the better path. I don't think so.) But we must level the playing field for the upcoming campaign. Public financing, disclosure of outide sources of income, rules to protect the Court.
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May 9, 2008
Oh my God!
Just when both campaigns began talking about peace and a respectful exit strategy for Hillary, she drops the equivalent of the "F bomb" at the prayer breakfast. I am stunned and it ain't easy to stun me. I've heard just about everything in politics from Trent Lott's suggestion the U.S. would be better off had we followed Strom Thurman's Dixiecrat platform in 1948, to the Rev. John Hagee blaming Katrina on a gay pride parade. But Hillary Clinton is not Trent Lott nor is she loony like Hagee. She is held to a higher standard.
The Clintons have been quietly playing the race card in an appeal to southern whites for a long time. Bill's comparison with Jesse Jackson's 1988 South Carolina victory was just one example. Hillary's Rev. Wright fixation was another. (I reach no conclusion about her recently acquired southern accent.) But she went way off the farm yesterday. Way, way off.
In her USA Today interview she claimed she would be a better candidate than Barack because a recent poll showed that Senator Obama's support among (I'm not making this up--even the NYT carries it in an editorial today) working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again. There's a pattern emerging here."
The NY Times agrees: "Yes, there is a pattern--a familiar and unpleasant one."
Then the editorial reflects the sentiments in my blog of yesterday. "The undeclared superdelegates should stop their coy posing" and get on with it. There is no justification for delay in taking on John McCain.
As for Hillary, she ought to be ashamed of herself. Fostering racial division is a grave insult to her supporters, her Party and our country. It is time for her Wisconsin team to help Barack deal with racial division. The primary is over. He won, she lost. A phony "count the votes" chant Tuesday in Indiana sounded tinny and manufactured. Her interview is shocking.
Time for action Herb, Russ, Paula and Lena. Your Party has been pushed to the brink of disaster by a sore loser who appears ready to take down the winner and damn the consequences. Why? Another run in 2012? Pay back? Whatever the reason it is not a pursuit of lofty goals.
There is time to heal but not much and apparently healing will take place, if at all, without Hillary and Bill Clinton. But the process can and should begin now, in Wisconsin.
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May 8, 2008
One-horse race
No matter what Hillary Clinton says about soldiering on to West Virginia, Kentucky, and the other primaries, it is off the front pages. Everyone knows it is over, and there is nothing left to cover. If no one is in the forest we don't know for sure if the falling tree made a noise, and if Obama and Clinton are not competing the news people won't cover Hillary's rallies, fund raisers or ideas. A one-horse race is no fun and the fun is gone, the game is over, Obama is going to be the nominee.
The problem is not her gritty determination to go on it is the subliminal message, openly stated by one of her inner circle after her Pratt-fall in Indiana, that is the problem: "She can't get the nomination and Obama can't win in November." If her decision to fight on even though it is over is sending that signal, the Democrats are in deep doo-doo.
And the signal? That an African-American can't win in America? Whoa Nelly! It is time to send a distress signal to our SUPER-DOOPERS. Herb Kohl remains undecided; Russ Feingold voted for Barack and is "inclined to support him" but not yet? His aide, Paula Zellner, understandably has to wait for Russ. Lena Taylor? C'mon, Lena.
I want a woman president in my lifetime and I want a new chapter in race relations in my lifetime. The latter should happen this November and if the Clinton camp is responsible for another white male, John McCain, winning in November, the Party is indeed over.
We can't tell the Clintons what to do, but we can ask Wisconsin's super delegates to get involved. We elected you to lead. What are you waiting for?
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May 7, 2008
On to the White House!
So said Hillary Clinton after Barack's stunning 14-point victory in North Carolina while Indiana was still "too close to call." My night began with decisions--tune in Keith and his screaming colleague Chris Matthews; check C-SPAN; or turn to CNN and a guy named Wolf? Nervous time. The Clinton team had talked about a surprise "game changer" coming soon in N.C. and the first news on MSNBC--the irrepressible Terry McAuliff, seemed giddy about what was about to happen.
Face it, the forces of darkness were ready to shove Barack off-stage had she won Indiana in double digits, as predicted, and North Carolina by any margin. She didn't and the Ever-ready-bunny McAuliff was not seen again.
It was one hell of a victory for Barack Obama. He picked up 19 more delegates and two-hundred-thousand more popular votes. He is, as you know, getting close to the number needed. For the record, Indiana-- Clinton 51 Obama 49; N.C. Obama 56 Clinton 42.
Barack's speech was inspirational while Hillary seemed to be facing reality. She seemed to be saying "it is over" but the words continued to challenge Barack on the gas tax. "On to the White House" was her call, but the look on Bill's face said, "We will need a visitor's pass." And the nasty Lanny Davis, the Clinton's pit bull, lashed out at every former Clinton "traitor."
The only one looking more stunned than Bill Clinton was Chris Matthews. If it is over, who will tune in Hardball?
Nothing good can happen in the remaining primaries. All she can do is tear down Barack--can't catch him in delegates or popular vote total. It all ended last night. Ah, but the yellow caution light came on--"Count the votes" was the chant--you know, Michigan and Florida. Pahhhleeeze!
A new chapter is about to begin.
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May 6, 2008
Big day
The more I listen to the talkers the more confused I become. It fascinates me how TV anchors making hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars a year can seriously question if Barack is an elitist. What are they? Men of the people? I've reached the conclusion that it is more about one's university than one's mother and father or even life experiences. Given Barack's tremendous achievement of being elected the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review, the talkers suggest he must be smarter than they are so write him off as an elitist. (In Adlai Stevenson's day he would be an "egghead.") And spending years as a community organizer--elitist?
All I know is that I'm sick of George, Charlie, Wolf, Brian and Joe. But they do shape the debate and that is too bad. Today is the most important day for Barack since Iowa. Win North Carolina and it is game, set, and almost match.
The crowd in Indianapolis last night for Obama's finish was breath-taking. No other politician since Bobby Kennedy could draw a crowd that size. And the speech? Tremendous.
Back in Wisconsin, the JS reports that Gwen Moore is on the road for Barack. Given his 18 percent victory in Wisconsin, little wonder she joins Dave Obey, Governor Doyle and most Wisconsin delegates in supporting Barack. (One off-key note: Russ Feingold has not decided yet.)
Bill Berry writes a superb article today, "Rooting for Sustainability." And regular contributor John Smart hits an issue most of us missed in "Whale of a job, Brownie."
For my part, I'm getting excited about Bob Fest VII on September 6. Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature will get us moving to save our planet if it is not too late.
See you tomorrow after the anchors tell us how to read the results in North Carolina and Indiana.
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May 5, 2008
Ah, the end is near
Yes, indeed, tomorrow we get Indiana and North Carolina. Barack won Guam by 5 votes over the weekend. Good thing he did not fly to Guam to win their 4 delegates. Instead, like Texas, Hillary and Barack split the four. (The likely Michigan and Florida solution.)
Best line of the weekend? Hillary sent a surrogate to argue her position on the gas tax. Barack pointed out the Clinton surrogate is a lobbyist for Shell Oil. "This is truly a shell game," Barack deadpanned.
Best question? George Stephanopoulos: "Senator Clinton, can you name one serious economist who favors your gas tax proposal?" Answer was Clinton-speak about "elites." Nice try, George. He then got second place, too, for asking if her campaign "would ever release the names of donors to her husband's foundation?" Her response? "No." Or was it NO?
Best new line: Barack, "Politics did not drive me to working people. Working people drove me to politics." Take that, Rocky!
Best student? Hillary, so says Robert Reich: "She has learned how to be ruthless."
Best understatement goes to "Rocky" Clinton: "I'm no shrinking violet."
Good news for all of us? All things come to an end. This primary is almost over. Get ready, John McCain.
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May 4, 2008
Who will tell the people?
The title of Bill Greider's great book was borrowed by Thomas Friedman in the Sunday Times. I always knew that eventually Friedman would write a column I agreed with, and sure enough, today is the day. Catch this, "Much nonsense has been written about how Hillary Clinton is 'toughening up Barack' so he'll be able to withstand Republican attacks.
"Sorry, we don't need a president who is tough enough to withstand the lies of his opponents. We need a president who is tough enough to tell the truth to the American people...we are living on borrowed time and borrowed dimes." Well said, Thomas Friedman.
Will Rev. John Hagee, McCain's guy, join Cheney in leading us to bomb-bomb Iran to divert attention from the failed surge? When will gas reach $5 at the pump? Is anybody thinking about breaking up the oil companies? Or taxing their outrageous profits? Have we lost Afghanistan as surely as we have lost Iraq? (Remember a few weeks ago when Gates flew to Munich to urge the Europeans to send more troops to Afghanistan? The NY Times reported then, "Mr. Gates said he would speak directly to the people of Europe, and not to their governments...Gates acknowledged that there was a risk in making a personal appeal to Europeans for support in stabilizing and rebuilding Afghanistan..." Guess what? It didn't work and this week we will send 7,000 more American troops to Afghanistan!)
Forget the silly gas-tax moratorium. Who will tell the people we are going broke? We can't afford one war let alone two.
Now the table has been set. If Barack wins N.C. it is all but certain he will be the nominee. Indiana? No way. (He won Guam by seven votes. One in N.C. is enough.)
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May 3, 2008
They stole the fun
"They" would be the Clintons and their bully-surrogates. The "fun they stole" is the enjoyment and excitement of the campaign this year. Not just the excitement of the Obama campaign, but the pleasure we felt when Kucinich, Biden, Dodd and Richardson were on stage. (While I was pulling for Edwards, he wasn't much fun.)
They were the "best and the brightest" and Democrats were proud of their candidates and looking forward to November. "Our turn" was the refrain. But a funny thing happened on the way to Denver. Bill Clinton, James Carville, and Howard Wolfson pushed the nasty button, turned to scorched earth tactics, and seemed to holler, "This is our party--if Hillary doesn't get the nomination, we will defeat Barack," and poof! The fun was gone. When Richardson endorsed Obama, Carville called him "Judas." Judas? Whoa Nelly! But the below-the-belt punch may have worked on Edwards who has remained on the sidelines--even in his own state.
Then there was the Hillary pause on 60 Minutes, the Bill Clinton comparison with Jesse Jackson's 1988 South Carolina victory, Bill claiming the Obama camp (incredibly) played the race card on him) the Rev Wright's 10 days on stage and Hillary's confession that she would have quit his church. Then she and McCain passed the commander-in-chief test...the 3:00 a.m. phone call.
The Clintons hint to super delegates that Barack cannot win. (Could any African American win?) It is clear that the Clinton tactics have worked. If she and Bill win in North Carolina--look out Barack, the bullies will roll you.
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May 2, 2008
Mission Accomplished
The White House press secretary, Dana Pereno, said they should have been more specific five years and 3,900 soldiers' lives ago. I'm not kidding. Should have said, "Mission Accomplished for troops on this ship."
Bush now holds the record: 71 percent disapprove of his handling of the job. Don't you wonder about Cheney's numbers? But they still have power and some of us think they will bomb Iran to prove it and to help John McCain. They want some good news or a diversion from the failure of the surge, and bombing Iran could provide it for McCain. Whoa Nelly!
Gotta love politics. Bill Clinton ("they played the race card on me") appointed Joe Andrew as chair of the DNC. He is today a super delegate from Indiana, but he switched from Hillary to Barack and, guess what? The Clinton campaign questioned whether he is from Indiana. C'mon.
Average for a gallon of regular is now $3.60. I heard a mention of this odd fact ob PBS. "Supplies are up and demand is down. It is hard to explain the rising prices." Really? How about price gouging for starters. Shell's first quarter profit--9 billion dollars; BP's profit $7.6 billion. Break up the oligopoly and prices will suddenly trend downward.
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May 1, 2008
Really?
Can it be? I heard a news program without a single mention of the Reverend Wright. Huzzah! Much more fun to watch Hillary try to figure out how a gas pump works. And, of course, the analysis of the brilliant McCain-Clinton 18-cent gas tax moratorium. That ought to teach BP. C'mon. If the Clintons are not attacking Obama they seem to be working in tandem with the hapless McCain.
Here is the latest:
Pledged delegates: Obama 1,732 Clinton 1,597 (Obama leads by 135.)
Super delegates: Obama 244 Clinton 263 (Clinton leads by 19)
Total-- Obama 1976 Clinton 1860 (Obama lead: 116)
Iraq: Oh yes, almost forgot. April--deadliest month since September. The surge didn't work, so bomb Iran? (Let's invade Grenada again--it went just fine.)
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April 30, 2008
Need a friend?
Harry Truman once opined, "If you need a friend in Washington, buy a dog." I'm going to buy a puppy for Barack and suggest a new spiritual adviser while I'm at it. One super delegate called to vent about the incredible attention given by the media to the rants of Rev. Wright. Both of us thought that the Obama Philadelphia speech was one of the best ever delivered in our lifetimes. Barack was right to defend Rev. Wright but then the Rev. saw the spotlight and it appears to us that he likes center stage. All he had to do was give Barack the same respect he got from the Senator. But that would have moved him off stage. Instead--a book deal is in the future.
The Rev. Wright issue is over unless guilt by association is our new primary. Back to substance...please. (I must admit to a fear that Hillary and her finger-wagging husband have more to hurl against the wall but maybe, just maybe, substance will creep into the North Carolina primary.)
Disappointed: John Edwards, Al Gore, John Kerry--they should say something. What are they waiting for? The report that Edwards wants a Cabinet position and doesn't want to offend either one of the candidates is very disappointing.
JS reports that the shadow government in Milwaukee, the Greater Milwaukee Committee (misnomer; should be the called the Greater Profits Committee), will study a plan put forward by privatizers to eliminate elected government in Milwaukee County. Sheldon Lubar, appointed, grab a seat, by Jim Doyle, is the leading anti-democrat in this battle.
It is unclear if he was commenting on Scott Walker's administration when he said, "Milwaukee County government has become archaic, inefficient, dysfunctional." Whoa Nelly! And how did County Exec Walker react? He wants to do for the state as governor what he has done to Milwaukee County. Yikes! (Don't wake Governor Doyle.)
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April 29, 2008
That ought to do it
So 750 GM workers in Janesville are losing their jobs, not because they are producing a poor product, but because GM management stood around sucking thumbs while Toyota passed them. With gas approaching $4 per gallon due to price-fixing by big oil, who can afford a lumbering SUV--the sticker price or at the pump?
Remember Bob Dylan's song, "The vandals got the handles"? Well? The vandals got GM, too.
The well-respected Center for Economic Development, centered at UW-Milwaukee, reports that recession is hitting Milwaukee hard but, hey, the Brewers are doing well. JS carries the Center's report this morning. Milwaukee has lost 3,711 jobs since February of 2007. Yikes!
Not to worry. The 3,711 who lost jobs and the 750 GM workers will soon get $600 in the mail from Uncle George Bush. That could purchase between 150 and 166 gallons of gas to help while driving to a job interview. Now, then, feeling better are we?
The Republicans may have just won the 2008 election by a 6-3 vote in the Scalia, Roberts, Alito dominated Supreme Court. The Court found no evidence that there is sufficient voter fraud to justify picture IDs, but said such laws pass constitutional muster. Whoa Nelly! Bring back the poll tax! Memo to Howard Dean--you ain't gonna win nothing in this Court so organize, organize, organize while thanking Barack for bringing millions of new voters into the process. If the Democratic nominee expects to win, it had better be by a landslide.
Rove is ready. Are you?
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April 28, 2008
The Reverend Wright
Ten thousand diners filled Cobo Hall in Detroit for the annual NAACP fund-raising dinner. The Clintons have been speakers in the past but this year the Reverend Jeremiah Wright was honored by the NAACP. He gave a speech that got the 10,000 on their feet. His core message? We are different but not deficient. It was a good, solid and provocative speech if you watched it, but not if you listened to CNBC or CNN report it. The CNN reporter, obviously disgusted by Rev. Wright, asked Senator Dick Durbin, "Do you still support Barack?" Durbin, co-chair of the Obama campaign said, "Of course."
Then the William F. Buckley wanna-be, William Kristol, and Juan Williams, Brit Hume, and others dissected the speech as if written and delivered by Barack. It wasn't. (Tough enough to defend one's own speeches let alone one's pastor's.) Even a Hillary Clinton supporter defended Wright: "The First Amendment gives him the right to speak and Barack cannot be held responsible for his speech."
It would be refreshing if the talking heads, including Cokie Roberts, discussed the substance of the speech. Why can't Keith Olbermann be on all the time? Ah, but that asks for too much.
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April 27, 2008
Debate? Debate?
I hope you read and comment on my column "Taking back the debates." I mention it because Hillary Clinton wants another debate, and another and another. To entice Barack into this contest she offered to eliminate the third person on stage and the rules.
Why? Because her style reminds me of Ann Coulter's never-stop-talking-don't-even-take-a-breath style of debate. Not just the obnoxious Coulter--she and Chris Matthews would be quite a pair as well. Put Matthews, Coulter and Hillary on stage and you would not hear a word over the cacophony. In the view of these famous talkers, he or she who talks longer wins. The perfect "debate" would be Hillary 82 minutes, applause 8 minutes, and Barack the balance of the 90 minutes.
Barack would be road kill to a hawk because he would not jump in, shout over Hillary and demand to be heard. Let's face it. Barack is too polite.
If one person talks and talks there is no debate there is a filibuster. Interrupting Hillary is dangerous. And she won't let it happen.
No more faux debates.
Best line of the week? Frank Rich: "The best deal for McCain would be for Mr. Bush to disappear into the witness protection program."
Pakistan is about to make a deal with pro-Taliban fighters; Karzai almost killed; violence in Iraq is troubling to say the least. So, how's it going John? More talk of bombing Iran!
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April 26, 2008
Farewell # 2
Walked out to get the last daily Cap Times and my mind raced back to a drive to Milwaukee to get the first Journal-Sentinel following the merger of two good papers. I was accompanied by two very distinguished journalists whose disapproving comments are stored in my memory bank. One said "This is great for the Shepherd-Express" then, and now, the only print competition for the JS in our state's largest city. The Internet? What's that?
The first thing politicians noticed, post-merger, was the absence of the old Milwaukee Sentinel in coffee shops throughout the state. Pre-merger, one could read the news of the day in the morning Sentinel, whether in Racine or Rhinelander, and get intelligent commentary in the evening in the Journal. The Sentinel was, despite an awful editorial page, something that made us a cohesive body politic and not a second thought to papers from Chicago and St. Paul.
The second thing politicians noted was a dramatic fall-off in the number of reporters covering politics in the Capitol.
We are told that death of the daily Cap Times we know and love was inevitable. Could have been last year or next (if life-supporting subsidies continued), but it was dying. Time to pull the plug. I have no reason to question that judgment, but the lack of transparency raised questions.
As I understand the plan, the New Cap Times print version will be stuffed inside the State Journal for delivery on Wednesday, but it will be restricted to Dane County following the JS pattern of keeping the paper at home. But, one might argue, who cares where the Wednesday print version is delivered, because the Internet is in all our homes? Maybe. Seems to me that the New Cap Times has new competitors on the Internet, including the New York Times, Journal-Sentinel, Washington Post, not just the 90-year rivalry with the Wisconsin State Journal. But let's keep our fingers crossed, thank William Evjue, Miles McMilin, Eliot Maraniss, Dave Zweifel, John Patrick Hunter, Phil Haslanger and lots of people noted in the second-to-last Cap Times.
You will be sorely missed. All the best.
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April 25, 2008
Thanks Cap Times!
I must begin with a "thank you" to the great employees who, for 90 years, kept the progressive flame burning. You made a tremendous difference in this city, state and country. Don't stop now!
Tomorrow is the last day of the Evjue-created, La Follette-inspired, daily newspaper as a daily paper that you can hold in your hands. The only progressive daily in the country moves to the Internet. There will be lots of tears and beers tomorrow.
The paper will now become a creature of the Internet. There will be a once-per-week print version on Wednesday and the regular Cap Times Sunday editorial will appear in the Forum section of the Wisconsin State Journal, but it will be different.
Will it work? Let's hope so. The thought of progressive Madison with only the WSJ framing the debate on key issues daily, is frightening. So, bon voyage Cap Times. Do well!
Now the spotlight shines on Lee Enterprises. Are they determined to invest in the new Internet version of the Cap Times?
Prison everyone? The NYT reports, "The U.S. has less than 5 percent of the wold's population but it has almost a quarter of the world's prisoners." Criminologists in other industrialized nations say they "are mystified and appalled by the number and length of American prison sentences." There are 2.3 million of us are behind bars...China, four times more populous than the U.S. is a distant second with 1.6 million in prison."
Hey! We're number one! Huzzah! Tommy Thompson made prison construction the heart of his economic development plans. We were number one in prison construction in the country. As one pol put it, "Tommy's vision of the future was huge prisons connected by very wide highways." And Attorney General Doyle was just as determined to lock 'em up. Thompson made it clear that he would not permit Doyle to out-flank him on the right and so the competition went on.
Frank Remington, the law professor who personified the Wisconsin Idea, told us years ago that Wisconsin would be spending more on prisons than on higher education unless we changed our policy. Well, Frank was correct.
So, why do we lead the world in this dubious category? Look at the WMC-sponsored auction for Supreme Court candidate Gableman. He distorted the role of Louis Butler in one criminal case suggesting that Supreme Court Justices dare not vote to reverse a conviction. If they do, they better get ready for retirement. That is not justice.
Time to reconsider our crime and punishment policies before Wisconsin is forced into bankruptcy.
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April 24, 2008
I have more votes!
Yah, sure Hillary. You have more votes than Barack if you take all the votes that don't count in Florida and Michigan.
But they don't count; there were no contests in those two states; and now you are willing to cheat on the rules? Tut, tut. Off to the principal's office!
Looks like Clinton picked up 11-16 delegates more than Barack in PA. In order to catch him in elected delegates, she would have to win the remaining primaries by an impossible 70 percent. Ain't gonna happen so now it appears the race card is showing its ugly head as the last gasp of a failed campaign.
The Clinton argument boiled down is that an African-American can't win in recession-plagued-war-weary America. Ugly! Catch this from the NYT: "For Mr. Obama, race presents two potential problems: Voters opposing him simply because he is black, and Democrats who will not support him because they do not think a black man can win a general election." As some would say, OH MY GOD! Is this the legacy of MLK Jr., RFK, and John Lewis? Is this our country? Did "Bull" Connor win afterall?
It is time for Hillary Clinton and her supporters to denounce this incredible nonsense raised long after this contest was decided, primarily by white voters, in Iowa, Idaho, Wisconsin, Illinois...
Barack gave one of the great speeches in our history after the comments from his minister. Your turn, Hillary. Tell us about racical division in our land and how you will lead us out of this mess.
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April 23, 2008
Black and white
I suspect you are as uncomfortable as I am listening to and watching CNN and CNBC telling us (or Chris Matthews shouting) how white women over 50 are voting; how white women under 50, who earn less than $50K voted; white women under 50 with a college degree; and how blacks--as a group are voting. (I notice they lump all blacks together. Is that because the number of blacks earning over $50K is too small to measure in a state like PA that is 82 percent white?)
It may be "news" or it may be a new way of justifying racism, ageism, anti-feminism. Guys in suits justifying the divisions Barack has vowed to eliminate. I'm troubled by jerks like Bill Bennett and Pat Buchanan lecturing Barack on how he must get through to white people. Have we no responsibility? Is it up to the candidate to pander to each sub-group?
Let us hear from you.
So, Hillary won by 10 percent; picked up 81 delegates to 62 for Barack; she now trails by 133 with only Indiana, S.D., Oregon, N.C., and Puerto Rico left. It remains an impossibility for her to surpass Barack in elected delegates or vote totals, so what's the deal? The DLC is in panic mode and anything goes--duck, Barack!
Hillary says she would "obliterate Iran" if Israel is attacked. No longer can we imagine her as peace maker in the Middle east if she were elected. Obiliterate? Move over Rev. Haggee.
Here's the skinny. The Clintons decided that if Barack were to win the nomination they would make it impossible for him to defeat McCain so then she can run again in 2012.
They are on the way to achieving their goal. I think it might be too late to save the Democratic Party. The forces are gathering to push Hillary to the front of the line by arguing that a black man cannot win. If that argument carries the day, "Turn out the`lights the Party's over."
The saving grace? Barack's grace under pressure. I can hear the song, "United we stand, divided we fall...our backs against the wall..."
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April 22, 2008
Oh Canada!
Catch this. "Should Canada unhitch its wagon from the U.S.? A striking number of us view our giant neighbor as an irresponsible, even dangerous, superpower. The war in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Hurricane Katrina, President Bush--all these have served to alienate Canadians from a country that used to be an admired friend and ally." It doesn't stop there. The Globe and Mail writer goes on, "The economic troubles, corporate corruption, the subprime mortgage crisis, the rising threat of recession...an unreliable economic partner..."
While the author of those gems preaches caution, Canada has been our best, albeit often ignored friend, forever. Yikes!
Hamas: Condi Rice, on an unannounced visit to Iraq, condemned Jimmy Carter for meeting with Hamas. (She was dodging rocket attacks all day as well.) Carter, a true hero, said Hamas is ready to accept Israel but not recognize her. For that Carter should be condemned?
Gas now at all-time high. It is $3.50 a gallon on average. Have you wondered about the efficiency of the market? BP, Shell, and the others raise prices at about the exact same time. Could it be that the oil cartel is playing games with us? Nah! Perish the thought.
How high is high? The American Trucking Association issued a statement saying "Gas is now our biggest cost...surpassing the cost of labor!" (Don't tell James Hoffa.) Despite all this, the Doyle administration continues to push a $1.9 billion I-94 expansion. Is that nutty or what?
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April 21, 2008
Scaife? Say it ain't so!
I winced when Rupert Murdoch held a brunch for Hillary Clinton, but that reaction was nothing compared with my response to Hillary's endorsement from Richard Mellon Scaife the extreme right-wing nut whose foundation, more often than not, is joined at the hip with Wisconsin's own Bradley Foundation. Look behind efforts to eliminate welfare and promote vouchers and you will find the Scaife, Bradley and Olin foundations.
Why would this pillar of the Right endorse Clinton? Like a Cub fan, she should throw back the endorsement.
She can have Scaife--Barack was endorsed by Bruce Springsteen.
A Pulitzer-worthy story in NYT Sunday: "Behind Analysts, Pentagon's Hidden Hand." A most disturbing expose of how the Bush administration promoted ex-officers as experts for TV who were seeking military contracts. They promoted the invasion of Iraq and kept on pushing the administration's lines. Like, "The surge is working...violence is down..."
The "analysts, with ties to military contractors, were vested in the very war policies they were asked to assess on air." Catch this: "Over time, the Pentagon recruited more than 75 retired officers." The largest contingent was affiliated with Fox News, NBC and CBS and CNN.
Ike warned of the vast military-industrial complex. Add the shameful co-opting of the networks and cable systems.
I looked for commentary on NBC, CBS, CNN and found none.
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April 20, 2008
On to Pennsylvania
Voters in the Keystone State, whatever that means, will end the Clinton quest by giving Barack a narrow victory on Tuesday. That is my prediction. While a majority of PA Dems favor Hillary over Barack, the word is out--Barack is the winner. Even if she wins on Tuesday, she cannot catch him, so why prolong this ugly phase? Another month of negative attacks by the Clintons might well seal the deal for McCain.
And it is clear that the attacks from Hillary and "NAFTA Bill" are bringing Barack down a little, but her negatives are shooting through the roof.
Howard Dean emerged from his D.C. hide-a-way to tell Super delegates to make a decision. I couldn't agree more. This campaign was going just fine until the Clintons yielded to the forces of darkness that told them to "go negative" and they listened.
I worry more about another electoral theft. Are we prepared for the next Florida and Ohio? I see little evidence of readiness in Wisconsin.
HUNGER: Food riots in Haiti, Egypt and 20 other countries. The cost of food has escalated and the poor are desperate. Meanwhile, George Soros and John Paulson made $3 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively, last year as hedgefund managers. Isn't it time for progressive taxes? Not to burden Soros and Paulson too much, but our country gave $300 million in food to the cause. Suppose Soros and Paulson had given 50 percent of their obscene profits. That $3.35 billion alone would dwarf the U.S.contribution!
Why not a 50 percent tax on all profits above, say, $100 million and a 75 percent tax on anything over $200 million? The money could be earmarked for freedom from hunger worldwide. Why not? Could George and John still afford a dinner out? I think so. Meanwhile, millions of starving people would be able to feed their kids.
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April 19, 2008
A lot to think about
The recent Supreme Court sale must be dealt with-- until reform saves the Court. JS reported yesterday that "Third parties spent $4.8 million" on the Butler-Gableman auction. Now, you don't know who they are, if they wear flag lapel pins, if they are part of the chemical or sub-prime mortgage business. They plan to remain anonymous. That is absurd. Citizens have a right to know who is hijacking our democracy through the purchase of our Court.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court just announced that the Court has voted to accept four new cases. After the shameful WMC manipulated campaign for Gableman, one must wonder about the new cases. Does WMC have a stake in the outcome of these cases? Did they use these cases to raise money for Gableman from those who do have a stake in the outcome? One involves product liability; another the rights of condo owners; and a third a criminal sentencing issue.
After the WMC-Gableman attacks on Louis Butler, any case involving criminal matters must send chills. Is it suicidal to vote in favor of a criminal petitioner? If a Justice seeks re-election, will he or she be featured in a Willy Horton TV spot?
Should Gableman be seated, must he recuse himself every time WMC shows up? Every time the rights of criminals come before the Court? I think so. You?
Must the Supreme Court find out (or at least try) the names of the anonymous third-party donors? Should Wisconsin Democracy Campaign go through all new cases to determine which party contributed so the Court could encourage recusal where the appearance of conflict is present?
If one gives $100 to a candidate, no problem. If one gives $2 million to a candidate, we have a problem in lights. Well, then, when should the Court turn on the yellow caution light? One million dollars? Or $100,000? How about $50,000? Or $5,000? Before accepting a case should the Court pour over campaign financing reports?
What if a corporation, with an economic stake in one or more cases headed to the Court, gave the money? (Suppose we know pretty much how the Justices will vote in a case and so in an attempt to alter the vote, we give a million dollars to one of the justices we think will vote against us? You know--to force recusal?)
If the Justices won't tell us who gave the money to their colleagues, will they confide in each other? Is impartiality now impossible? A thing of the past?
What tangled webs we weave...
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April 18, 2008
Pandering Hillary
In ABC's 90 minutes of nonsense, a/k/a "the Charlie and George show," Hillary Clinton said some wild things that have gone unnoticed in most places but not at the offices of the American Israeli Education PAC (AIEP). AIEPAC is on the extreme right of the spectrum and is devoted exclusively to the well being of Israel.
Hillary announced she, as president, would retaliate with massive force should Iran attack Israel. In fact, she would respond that way if any of our allies in the Mideast were attacked by Iran. No need to consult Congress for a declaration of war, the imperial presidency is back. She is not far from the Bush-Cheney pre-emptive strike policy. Yikes!
Barack was more restrained and his sensible restraint was being pushed by callers to Air America as "weak on Israel." Nonsense. We have old "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" and now Hillary singing along with McCain. Whoa Nelly!
And Amy Goodman reported this comment from former prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu: "We are benefiting from one thing and that is the attack on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the American struggle in Iraq. This changed American opinion in our favor."
Imagine that? Should Hillary be tied to Netanyahu's comments? Of course not, and that is the point.
As the Clinton scorched-earth campaign moves toward the election of McCain, isn't it time for Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton, as the chair of the Clinton Wisconsin effort, to tell her that McCarthyism is not pretty and is, in fact, unacceptable? It is, in fact, destructive. Stick to the issues and stop the McCarthy-like attacks with "did ya know, a Maoist attended a cocktain party in 2004?" "Did ya know an SDS founder supports Barack?" C'mon!
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April 17, 2008
Oh. My. God.
If last night's "ABC--Look-at-me" had been a hockey game, George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Gibson would have been sent to the penalty box or ejected from the game. (Does George still work for the Clintons?)
Think about it. The price of gas is $3.50; millions of Americans will soon lose their homes unless Congress acts; Iraqi troops, for the second time, abandoned their posts in battle; BLACKWATER was rewarded with another contract. But arrogant Charlie ignored these issues. I would have enjoyed learning how the candidates feel about the Delta-Northwest proposed merger--ah, but no way. We've got gossip and McCarthyism to pursue!
The NYT reported yesterday that hedge fund managers made obscene profits. John Paulson got $3.7 BILLION; George Soros made $3 BILLION; and so did a guy named Simons. To make the top 25 one had to make $360 million last year. Worth a question? One would think so.
Things are going south in Afghanistan but the ABC duo ignored this story to ask absurd questions about a student radical who lives in Chicago. C'mon! How about Hillary's service on the Wal-Mart board?
Do you still sneak an occasional smoke? Is Crown Royal, in the velvet sack, your drink of choice? Briefs or boxers?
Worse, it was three against Barack and afterwords, the talking heads said he was "too defensive." Yikes. He had to be defensive as Gibson and George raised every negative issue they could recall. To be kind to Stephanopoulos and Gibson, they may just be scared stiff the race is coming to a conclusion. What will they talk about then?
I think we should get on with it. Hillary has found the bottom of the barrel and there was nothing there. "Yes, yes, yes" she said. Barack could win. (News to the Clintons: he has already won.)
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April 16, 2008
Dean Opicka and Richard Nelson
Two more Wisconsin soldiers killed in this senseless occupation of Iraq. Imagine the impact on the families. Nelson was only 23 and Opica just 29. Remember what you were doing and dreaming at the age of these two men? How will they cope? Are they fathers? Were they in service to get money for college? Did they want to be there to fight for America? The stark reality of their deaths tells us little. (While Jenna Bush is on a book tour, these men were on their second tour of Iraq. Something is very wrong with this picture.)
Every day stories flood the airwaves and fill our newspapers about Iraq: corruption, incompetence, new contracts for BLACKWATER, more death and, catch today's NYT header: "Iraqi Unit Flees Post, Despite American's Plea."
I wish we were making this up but we are not. The story tells us that a young Captain was forced to argue with his Iraqi counterpart that the Iraqi troops should help. They refused claiming poor communications, inferior equipment, and inadequate training. Whoa Nelly! Are they right? Is it time to face the music? You betcha! Get our troops home now.
The battle to bring WMC to account for a racist campaign against Justice Butler is heating up.
Friday I'm on Wisconsin Public Radio at 8:00 on Joy Cardin's "Week in Review." The issue is bound to come up.
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April 15, 2008
Jackie Robinson
Today is special. It has been 61 years since Jackie Robinson took the field to break the rigidly enforced whites'-only policy of Major League Baseball. The same barrier existed in the NFL and, of course, the NBA, giving rise to the masters of the magic circle the Harlem Globetrotters.
The MJS carries a story today that raises more questions than it answers. First the boast: "Not every team in the league can boast five African-Americans on the same major-league roster, but the Brewers can do just that." (Not six, but the number five.)
The number of blacks on the field has gone down in Baseball. "In 1995, 19% of big-league players were black but "only 9% of players were black in 2004 and 2005, and in 2006 the number dipped to 8.4%...the Atlanta Braves--once known as Milwaukee's team, and Houston Astros had no African-Americans on their rosters."
C'mon! Atlanta and Houston have none? Two reasons are advanced in the article. First, that blacks are drawn to other sports. Given the small number of pro athletes and the large number of minorities seeking a way out of poverty, this reason sounds phony. Second, schools are charging parents lots of money to have a child play baseball in the public schools. Brewer's Bill Hall said, "They're making it so that if you don't have money, you can't play. If you want to play on good teams with good coaches, it's a lot. Families don't have $1,000 to just give away."
Taxpayers in and around Miller Park paid mega-bucks to help the Selig family make millions. Bud gets $14 million a year as Commissioner. Where is he? It is time to look beyond steroids and ask why the "national pastime" is looking more and more like it did 61 years ago.
McCain: "Obama and Clinton want to unilaterally negotiate NAFTA. That would be breaking a solemn treaty...that sends the wrong message to...the world." Two questions. First, do you support the breach of the Geneva Conventions? Is that less solemn? Second, is it your position that once a treaty is signed or a law passed, no changes, no matter what happens, are allowed? What is the message to the world on repeal of Habeas Corpus; Gitmo; torture? Yikes! Take a nap.
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April 14, 2008
If it sounds too good--it probably is
The old saw comes to mind as the Wisconsin State Journal, fresh from a self-proclaimed victory in the Frankenstein veto battle, is now riding at full gallop toward the barn marked Appointment to Court. Instead of support for public financing of elections, a demand that the Judicial Commission deal with intentionally misleading TV spots by refusing to seat Gableman, or other reforms, the WSJ goes for the lazy solution.
The lazy solution apes the federal system. Anonymous lawyers from corporate firms screen establishment candidates for the Court. The president appoints, senators ask a few questions for TV face time, and the nominee is confirmed.
Ah, the comfort of the title, Merit Selection, should sooth your troubled breast--Merit Selection will bring us truth and justice.
Whoa WSJ! In a new study reported in the NYT, "An Empirical Analysis of the Confirmation Hearings..." concludes that nominees "present themselves one way at confirmation hearings but act differently on the Court." In other words, there is no certainty in the appointive system. Should we discard the idea? Probably not, but a more thoughtful group than the WSJ editorial board should study the idea while the Legislature passes the Impartial Justice bill.
I remain suspicious that hiding behind the WSJ's merit selection curtain is WMC believing they can control the appointive process for less money than a messy democratic election.
Merit selection sounds too good to be true--because it is.
And God is now center stage. Hillary Clinton's discovery that God is angry with Barack makes me wonder if common sense has taken a sabbatical. For my money, let minister Bill Clinton tell us what to believe.
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April 13, 2008
Oh, no, not the truth! Please.
I spoke to the Sauk County Democrats yesterday and praised Clinton and Obama for sticking to the occupation of Iraq, income disparity, and the class war launched against us, rather than abortion, guns, and the rest of the so-called social agenda. If Democrats stick to economics, they can't lose come November. Democrats often vote against their own economic interests because of the wedge issues pushed by Karl Rove and, before Rove, his spiritual father Lee Atwater.
Ah, not so fast Fridley! Now I hear from millionaire-from-speeches Hillary, and multi-millionaire McCain through marriage that Barack is "an out of touch elitist." He is "arrogant and aloof." Hell, he went to Harvard!
They can say anything, but I have not seen a candidate so in touch since Bobby Kennedy.
Why the sudden dust-up? Well, he told the truth. C'mon, Barack. No more of that or, if you insist, small dollops at a time. The past four administrations have failed the working poor--Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush--have talked but done nothing to deal with hard times, lost jobs, and trade imbalances.
Hillary (I went to Harvard too) said, and I'm not making this up, "Pennsylvanians don't need someone to look down on them. They need a president who will stand up for them." Tell that to the finger wagging father of NAFTA, Bill Clinton, who took in $800,000 in speaking fees from Colombian trade groups. Out of touch?
The desperation of the Clintons is obvious. It is clear they are out to destroy Barack Obama and damn the consequences.
Best moment of the week? General Cody, four stars on his uniform, said, "The endeavor [Afghanistan and Iraq] is like building an airplane in flight." I would add that because Bush and his general, Petraeus, don't know where the flight is headed, no map is required.
Bill Kraus has written a must-read on the Supreme Court race. Everywhere I go people are mad as hell about WMC. Time for action.
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April 12, 2008
Thank goodness
A Maserati dealership will open soon in Milwaukee. Huzzah! Frankly, I don't know how we got along without one and suspect the dealer waited for the results of the Supreme Court election before finalizing plans. With Gableman in place, tax breaks for likely Maserati buyers are safe. Maseratis start at $120,000, but I suspect that if you buy two you might get a discount. Try and let us know.
Jenna Bush spoke in Madison at the annual Wisconsin Women in Government dinner. She disappointed those who thought she might go to Iraq to support her father's assertion that this war is a defining moment for our country.
St. Norbert's poll: 18 percent of us believe the way the Supreme Court election was conducted is just fine. But 30 percent want public funding, 27 percent want restrictions on fund raising, and 61 percent believe that 3rd-party TV spots "were misleading."
Still getting good comments on our CAFO conference and Hightower's talks.
Off to Baraboo!
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