Why Should Money Have Anything To Do With It

James Wigderson has another Thursday Waukesha Freeman column. As usual it’s persuading. It’s persuaded me to think of another way we can ensure fairness in elections, which is what I believe James is in favor. He says this in his column:

Jay Heck of Common Cause estimates the cost of the governor’s race will be
between $35 million and $40 million, a nice-sized Powerball jackpot. But that
only translates to approximately $9.75 per eligible voter in Wisconsin, less
than what you spend on a pizza. What is your vote worth to you?

My vote is worth quite a lot to me. But its effectiveness has been diminished by lobbyists, special interest organizations and industry. What happened to one person one vote?

I say disallow all contributions, including those from candidates themselves (it seems only the wealthy are able to run for office these days). Instead, have all campaigns financed by money from the peoples' coffers, supplied by equal dollar amount taxation of each individual, not based on worth or lack thereof. My proposal includes no contributions from lobbies, organizations or industry.

Television time could be arranged for candidates and their teams to put together televised arguments to attempt to sway voters. No other attempts to do so on television or radio would be allowed.

Oh hell, I know it would prove nearly impossible to insert effective controls into our elective process. But maybe we could gain a little more control than we have now. But busting loose the contribution levels is not the way to go.

Carrick's Bend, Part Two

My new friend has a new post (and an update on an old one). First the old one. My friend has such a potty mouth. Here's his update to an old post (italics, mine).

UPDATE#2: Man this guy actually is dummer (I think he means dumber.) than a
rock. My point in the title you dumb ass (See, he can spell the word dumb.)
is that with idiots like you (you little Brookfield rich boy trying to be a good
little terrorist loving lefty prick) on the left the Republicans should have 90%
or more of the Senate and House.

Besides channeling Ann Coulter and her bad behavior, it seems to me the point my friend was trying to make is now even more ambiguous. Oh, sorry a big word. The point is hard to discern. Oh, another big word. How’s this…it’s even more difficult to make any sense of the point trying to be made.

And, the reason, me thinks, the Republicans do not have 90% of the Senate or House is because of supporters like you, my friend.

Now on to the most recent post.

My new friend posits that teachers are at fault for children not making it in eighth grade. Here is part of his comment …

… several posts on several blogs by teachers whining about “losing” students who
are reading at a 3rd grade level in the 8th grade got me thinking (Oh, oh.).

HOW DID THEY GET TO THE EIGTH GRADE?

It just proves a point I've made several times before. You have to want to learn.

The Sky is Falling

The latest wacky tale from my children, this time from my little five-year old, Abby.


Each spring, the sky turns red. Giant drops of detergent fall from the sky. All this detergent helps the grass and the dolls to grow, but it can make things really large too.

Some places get so much detergent, that rivers drown into the streets. Driving can be tricky when this happens, so some people put special dogs on their cars.

And when the detergent is falling, don't forget your can. Otherwise, your feet might get small if you walk in puddles!

After all the detergent has fallen, the skies begin to swim. If you are lucky, you might see a huge speaker stretched across the sky.

Success Story

To all the righties who take pleasure in knocking down MPS teachers, here is a story of one remembered by a student as having been a positive influence.

I can hear the cacophony already … ha ha ha, just one. Well, in response, that’s shortsighted and crude. Please note in the article (if you are able to read) that the student acknowledges that a positive home environment played a role in her success. That without it, her teacher’s efforts would likely have been for naught.

Teachers can only do so much. There has to be help on the home front.

No Room for Threatening Behavior

All right, someone is getting too carried away. It's one thing to shout at each other and call each other names, and even to suggest someone put a gun in their mouth and pull the trigger. It's quite another to send mean-spirited and threatening e-mails.

Peter DiGaudio, at Texas Holdem Blogger, says that this is exactly what has been happening to him. I don't really like Peter or his politics. Apparently someone else does not like him either. But that is no reason to threaten. It should stop immediately.

As I posed at his site and I will repeat here ... there is no room for that kind of behavior.

We're So Mean

Patrick McIlheran is at it again. He's back claiming the left is so mean. In his most recent blog, he opines about the trouble a Ohio State University librarian got in for suggesting a book for a reading list. Here’s what he wrote:

A day late, though it’s still fresh, I’m led by Rick Esenberg’s blog
to Dad29, who unfolds the trouble a librarian at Ohio State U got in for suggesting a
book, “The Marketing of Evil,” for the reading list for incoming freshmen. The
book suggests that the sexualization of culture is a deliberate marketing tactic
to sell stuff to youths. It has similar derogatory things to say about the
cultivation of campaigns for legalized abortion and gay rights. It's been
praised by culturally traditionalist commentators.

Well, duh. I happen to agree that sex is used as a marketing tactic. This is news? The other stuff is made up. As is typical of McIlheran, he’s afraid to expose who he roots with, so he applies ambiguous names such as “culturally traditionalist commentators.” So who are these shadowy commentators?

I did a little research and found that “The Marketing of Evil” was written by David Kupelian. It seems that David Kupelian is a managing editor of WorldNet Daily. You know, the outfit run by Joseph Farah who has advocated the murder of adulterers and praised the blacklisting of suspected communists in Hollywood in the 1950s.

"It was a good thing. It was the right thing to do at the right time in history.
And, as America finds itself beleaguered in the world against – literally
surrounded by – enemies who seek to destroy it, we cannot allow traitors
privileged status in the entertainment industry."

Also included in the illustrious group of shadowy commentators is Donald Wildmon, leader of the evangelical activist group, American Family Association, which has linked Judaism to criminality and hostility toward Christianity. Wildmon has been denounced by Jewish organizations including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Congress.

Then there is Rabbi Daniel Lapin, whom NY Times columnist, Frank Rich, has called a “show rabbi” for the Christian right. Lapin actually introduced Jack Abramoff to Tom Delay.

Can't forget D. James Kennedy, a former Arthur Murray dance instructor, and founder of Coral Ridge Ministries. Kennedy has said this: "Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society."

Kennedy's a big fan of Roy Moore, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice, who once penned an opinion calling for the state to execute "practicing homosexuals."

Hmmm. Another dark commentator is David Limbaugh, brother of Rush Limbaugh. ‘Nuff said.

And of course, who can forget Dr. Laura Schlesinger, radio talk shrink, who's opinion it is that homosexuals are a "mistake of nature."

And finally, Michele Malkin. Can you say shrill, with no substance?

Seems to me there is nothing traditional about murder, execution and advocating for internment camps.

Shame on the Milwaukee Jornal Sentinel for continuing to carry this clown. To have balanced opinions is one thing. Then bring a conservative voice like George Will to the pages. McIlheran is nothing but a shill for far right conservative blather.

Oh, that's right. I'm so mean. At least I don't support anyone who advocates murder.

Charlie Sykes ... Standing Up for Expediency

Charlie Sykes has a post ridiculing the Doyle administration for saying that tourism will suffer if the anti-gay marriage amendment is passed, when in fact tourism has not really been affected because gay marriage is already illegal.

It does sound kind of dumb.

About as dumb as Charlie Sykes saying he doesn’t know which way he will vote on the amendment, when in fact, gay marriage is already illegal. Which means ... why are we voting at all. A little overkill maybe. This from the guy who likes to say he stands up for what is right.

Uh huh. More like he stands up for what is best for him.

New Neil Young Album Coming Soon

This from Tom Tomorrow....

With Neil Young’s new anti-war album coming out soon, it looks like we’re
about to go through another round of dipshit right wing bloggers explaining why
artists and musicians aren’t qualified to express political opinions.

Unlike, you know, the dipshit right wing bloggers themselves.

That was so naughty.

Charlie Sykes Makes Appearance in "This Modern World"

Really. Minus glasses, the guy on the right looks just like Charlie Sykes. He certainly sounds like him. The person on the left? Nah, James Wigderson has more hair.

Click on image to expand (not yourself, the image).

Twelve White Jurors Not Angry Enough

I am going to give the twelve white jurors in the Frank Jude case the benefit of the doubt. It was a complex case, with seemingly contradictory evidence and, of course, the silence of the cops did not help.

What is perplexing, though, are the comments from so many that it shouldn't matter that the jury was all white.

They're right of course, it shouldn't. But, try telling that to the face of an African-American. Try telling that to the faces of African-Americans who have been witness to lynchings caused by all white mobs. Try telling that to the faces of African-Americans who have been witness to all white juries in the past that ensured guilty verdicts for the innocent.

Just saying that maybe a little sensitivity to what has happened in the past might assuage some of the anger over this verdict.

Just Around the Carricks Bend

Oh goody. Another conservative blogger in need of a timeout. This person's blog is titled "Carrick Bend Thoughts," and there is a post concerning a couple that I wrote. This post shows so little in the way of neat argument that I just have to provide a link for my dear readers ... for a laugh.

First off, the post is titled: "this-is-what-amazes-me-most-about-republicans." Hmmm, no I'm not. Such a silly person.

Anyway, the first post my new friend comments on was written in response to the many "communist Waukesha" posts that some of my conservative blogger brethren put up regarding the election of Dem. Larry Nelson as mayor of Waukesha. My new friend chastises me for using a picture of an entrance to Terezin that has the words "Arbeit Macht Frei" on the archway. This picture was used, my new friend postulates, in complete disregard of the people who suffered there.

Well no. My knowledge of WWII is likely far superior to my new friend's. Additionally, my new friend ignores the fact that communism was (has been?) responsible for just a few million deaths, in similar fashion to the German Reich, so I've been told. In fact, gulags were fashioned in a manner similar to Nazi concentration camps. But I saw the humor intended in the posts of my conservative brethren regarding the disheartening election of Nelson (for them), and James W. and others saw the humor I intended. My new friend is unable to consider that. It's so sad.

And then my new friend thinks I mock Bush's (fake?) concern for children blown up by IEDs. That my new friend is unable to discern the idiocy of Bush's comment is plainly sad (the comment itself was taken from Garry Trudeau's site). That I mock Bush is true. He is responsible for the deaths of thousands, his crocodile tears impress me not one whit.

So, my new friend, post away, and have a good day. You've made mine.

It Was Just a Little Caucasian Lie

In Rush Limbaugh’s world, a little plagiarism here and there is no big deal. Nor is lying, for which Limbaugh is an expert. On his April 12th radio show, Limbaugh basically said that the Washington Post caved in and that the allegations of plagiarism against Ben Domenech were concocted. Of course, Limbaugh conveniently forgot to mention that Domenech has admitted to having done so.

Oh well. Lying is second nature to these guys anyway. So, I guess, what's a little lie amongst friends?

Reminds me of the blowhard conservative bloggers who stated, without any proof whatsoever, that liberals did not want the movie "United 93" to be shown. Tssk, tssk.