Category: On Wisconsin

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, On Wisconsin8 Comments

The Rural vs. Urban Divide

It’s not what you think, in Wisconsin: Three hunters turned their truck and trailer around and pulled up to where I stood on the sidewalk. I explained that I was with the Recall Walker campaign. “It’s why we turned around,” the driver said. He had already signed, but his father wanted the chance. First, he checked to see that I had a campaign volunteer badge. “Some people pretending to be with the campaign are destroying petitions,” he said. While his father signed, I told him about the woman losing $200 a month. He held up four fingers. “For me, it’s … Continue reading The Rural vs. Urban Divide

Athenae, Immoral Values, On Wisconsin, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Okay, Wisconsin Right to Life

I can’t bring myself to praise them, but at least in this, they are being practical: In a twist, Wisconsin Right to Life, the largest anti-abortion group in the state, has come out forcefully against the personhood amendment strategy, calling it “just plain wrong for Wisconsin.” In astatement on its website, the organization says Wisconsin is “already in the best position possible to protect unborn children” because the state has a law on the books — currently superseded by Roe v. Wade — that prohibits abortion. The organization believes passage of the personhood amendment would invalidate that law. (Others, including … Continue reading Okay, Wisconsin Right to Life

Immoral Values, Jude, On Wisconsin3 Comments

It Begins

Recall, you fools! Indeed it does. Yesterday was the kickoff of the drive to recall Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch here in Wisconsin–I believe this fact was noted at this very site yesterday. But, of course, it was also the beginning of stupid Republican nonsense against the recall. Includingvandalizing a business (auto-play video at that link) here in liberal-ass Madison. Keep it classy, Walker supporters. Oh, and the first person who compares dumping a glass of beer on someone’s head to hurling a large and heavy projectile into a place of business gets a free punch in the dick, courtesy … Continue reading It Begins

Athenae, Big Damn Heroes, Do Something, On Wisconsin1 Comment

‘I don’t like bullies’

Recall effort begins: On a recent weekday evening, about a dozen people gathered at a small clubhouse on Milwaukee’s east side. These middle aged men and women came to be trained on how to circulate petitions to get the signatures needed to recall Walker. The mere mention Walker’s name sparks a visceral negative reaction among them. For retired police officer John Harrington, the anger runs deep. He says he opposes the state’s new law requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls. “The voter ID thing bothered me a whole lot,” he said. “Besides I’ve had a lifelong aversion … Continue reading ‘I don’t like bullies’

On Wisconsin3 Comments

Editor of The Progressive, 17 others arrested for using cameras or holding signs

Arrests of spectators using cameras or silently holding signs in the gallery of the WI Assembly has been ongoing in past weeks. Yesterday 18 were arrested including the editor of The Progressive magazine as part of a “Concealed Camera Day” protest.From The Progressive: Then law enforcement began to haul people out for silently holding signs or taking pictures with their cameras. The Progressive’s own Matt Rothschild was arrested for taking a picture of these arrests being made. A total of eighteen people were arrested and ticketed for offenses that will likely be thrown out in court. People feel so strongly … Continue reading Editor of The Progressive, 17 others arrested for using cameras or holding signs

Athenae, Law/Justice, On Wisconsin3 Comments

The Fuck You Doctrine Continues

Jude sentthis over: The Wisconsin state Senate has passed a Republican-backed bill that would allow people suing the state or a state employee to pick where the case would be heard. Current law requires all cases against the state, as well as their appeals, to be heard in Dane County unless specifically authorized by law to be somewhere else. Republicans have long argued that judges in Dane County are too liberal. Not sure how the judiciary in other parts of the state should take the notion that they are automatically Republican Party hacks. This reminds me of nothing so much … Continue reading The Fuck You Doctrine Continues

Doc, Economy, On Wisconsin5 Comments

Scott Walker Gives UW System A Hand

(Not for the weak of heart or stomach. Not like the budget is any more savory.) Apparently, Governor Deadeyes woke up earlier this month and said to the state’s university system, “Oh, you survived those three gunshots to the chest? Crawl over here and let me see your head.” According to a memo released Wednesday, the state is expecting that all of those jobs we were supposed to get in Wisconsin, now that Walker opened us for business, will likely not yield enough tax money to balance the budget.Thus, the general raping that occurred in the budget battle this state … Continue reading Scott Walker Gives UW System A Hand

Current Affairs, Doc, On Wisconsin11 Comments

Shorter LAT: Sit down, Cheeseheads, because we said so

The Los Angeles Times has taken time out of its busy schedule to let the folks in our fair flyover state know that they know better than we do when it comes to recall elections. In an opinion run this week, the paper notes that the 2003 recall in California that sent Gray Davis home and the Governator out of the maid’s pants and into the state house was a bad outcome. They also note that: Recallsmake it nearly impossible for state leaders to get anything done because they go into campaign mode rather than legislating mode. They worsen partisanship … Continue reading Shorter LAT: Sit down, Cheeseheads, because we said so

On Wisconsin3 Comments

Recall Walker Effort to Begin Nov. 15th

(photo via Facebook) Let the Recall Effort Begin! From theWisconsin Democratic Party Website: This is it. This is history. After weeks of discussion and positive collaboration with grassroots activists like you, today comes an historic announcement. In collaboration with United Wisconsin, the grassroots effort to recall Scott Walker will begin Nov. 15th. It has become clearer than ever that the people of Wisconsin – the traditions and institutions of our great state – cannot endure any more of Scott Walker’s abuses. To preserve Wisconsin, we must begin the recall of Walker as soon as possible. This means that we only … Continue reading Recall Walker Effort to Begin Nov. 15th

Athenae, Economy, On Wisconsin9 Comments

This Will Create SHIT TONS of Jobs for Wisconsin

So very, very many people will want to move there now! The same controversial bill that ended the ability of public employee unions (except firefighters and police unions) to collectively bargain for anything except cost-of-living wage increases said state workers must pay 5.8% of earnings for their pensions and 12.6% of health care costs. For a full-time state worker buying family health care coverage, the Fiscal Bureau report said those changes meant: $25,000-a-year worker: $2,828 more. This worker had been paying $1,118 (4.5% of salary) toward health care and pension, but that went up to $3,946 (15.8% of salary). The … Continue reading This Will Create SHIT TONS of Jobs for Wisconsin

Athenae, On Wisconsin2 Comments

Suuuuuuuuure

Whatever, dude: Keith Gilkes ran Walker’s campaign last year, helped lead his transition and has served as chief of staff since Walker’s January swearing in. Gilkes will return to his political consulting firm on Oct. 8. Gilkes disclosed his plans to top Walker aides during a cabinet meeting Friday at a Madison hotel. In an interview, he said he would serve as lead adviser to Walker’s campaign, but also take on other clients for campaign work. He said he would not go into lobbying. His departure comes at a time of strain for the administration, with Democrats poised to try … Continue reading Suuuuuuuuure

Adrastos, Food and Drink, On Wisconsin13 Comments

The Cheesiest Billboard Ever

Given all the Sconnies here at First Draft, I probably shouldn’t be the one to post this item but here it is: This tower of cheesiness was erected near Lambeau Field in Green Bay by the physicians/national scold group, the PCRM. They’re essentially trying to scare America out of eating certain foods and now they’regoing after cheese. And in Wisconsin of all places. Hmmm, I wonder if they have any plans to expand to France? Probably not, French cheesemakers would probably force them to eat stinky fromage until they recanted. The folks who make the cheesehead hats are also not … Continue reading The Cheesiest Billboard Ever