Air America Event

Opps. One update, from my super-secret spies who attended tonight's Air America event in Milwaukee. Tonight they unveiled their super secret plans for a transmitter tower:



The penny is in lieu of actual fuses. I don't think their plans are UL approved.

No updates for a few days

I'm still down with this bug, so I'm trying my best to catch up on my rest.

Any pictures?

Jenna at Right off the Shore reports on a convention devoted to feminist science fiction.

Unfortunately she doesn't answer the question, how many of the participants wore the Return of the Jedi Princess Leia costume from when she was a prisoner of Jabba the Hut?

Life, life, give my creation life!

Bravo TV (remember when it showed opera?) is doing a countdown show of the 50 funniest movies of all time. You can ignore the show. Young Frankenstein came in at #56. #55 is Bull Durham. I turned off the tv in disgust.

Rock silent

Tim Rock has been made speechless by the news, his wife is having a baby. Would that make it a pebble?

The Simpsons join the NCAA

Paul Noonan at The Electric Commentary has found a site linking your favorite Simpsons stars with college football programs.

So for my friend Lorri:
Ohio State: Drederick Tatum
Thugs. They may wear nice outfits, but they're still thugs.

Brent:
Texas: Mayor Diamond Joe Quimby
Powerful, attention-getting, glamorous, yet always in danger of being brought low by its unshakeable vices -- e.g. money, poontang, losing to Oklahoma.

For the Catholic Church:
Notre Dame: Montgomery Burns
Been around since the beginning of time; the amount of money and power he controls is massive, absurd, and quite frankly, a little scary. The kind of guy everyone in town loves to hate -- but they'd switch places with him in half a second.

And finally closer to home:
Wisconsin: Barney Gumble
Stout, hard-drinking, the life of every party -- yet even when things are going well, they're never very far from total collapse. (Also one of those great-minds-think-alike situations.)

Wait, I want to go to that other hospital

Good news, of a sort. Aurora won a round in the courts and they are getting ready to build a hospital in Oconomowoc. (Ht: Spotted Horse)

I would have been happier had the issue never went to court, and even happier had the Waukesha County Board approved the plan to build the hospital in Summit, but thems are the breaks.

Just think, if ProHealth hadn't lobbied so hard to protect their monopoly in Western Waukesha County, they would be facing a brand new hospital getting built just three miles away.

McGee, Jackson and the lyrics to Billie Jean

So let me get this straight. Michael McGee Jr is really Michael Jackson Jr because Michael Jackson Sr was adopted by the McGee family after Jackson returned from Vietnam. McGee Jr really did have an affair with Kim Rucker, and now he's applying for a passport. Meanwhile, Michael Jackson Jr has some outstanding parking fines and lawsuit judgements.

We haven't had this much fun since Marvin Pratt's wife switched the license plates.

Does it occur to anyone that McGee/Jackson might just be a case of multiple personality disorder? Okay, Michael McGee jr didn't use that e-mail address to send bad poems to Kim Rucker, Michael Jackson jr did. Michael McGee Jr didn't have a "romantic relationship" with Kim Rucker, Michael Jackson Jr did.

Of course, that totally screws up the song lyrics. But then, maybe that was Michael McGee singing:

For Forty Days And Forty Nights
The Law Was On Her Side
But Who Can Stand When She's In Demand
Her Schemes And Plans
'Cause We Danced On The Floor In The Round
So Take My Strong Advice, Just Remember To Always Think Twice
(Do Think Twice)

Patrick at Badger Blogger is all over this story, but Mary at Freedom Eden has some real questions about the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's domestic spying program that looks at Social Security numbers.

Boy toy columnist

My latest Waukesha Freeman column is now available for the general public. I take on the queen of pop music, Madonna, for desperately seeking ways to shock people.

Pity the pop star that ages unwell. What must she do to get noticed? For the 47-year-old Madonna Ciccone, known to her fans simply as Madonna, the bag of circus sideshow geek tricks looks emptier all the time.

On Monday night, fans in Los Angeles got to watch her latest attempt at outrageousness. She decided to hang from a mirrored crucifix while singing one of her oldies, "Live to Tell."

Blogginess

Not only has Nick moved his blog to his own domain (yes, he is master of his domain), he is hosting this week's Carnival of the Badger. Stop by and see what other Wisconsin bloggers are writing.

Another blogginess note, Mike Mathias has come out with a blog, Pundit Nation. Mike is another UW-Milwaukee alum from my era (paleozoic) in college. However, I think it's safe to say there was little Mike and I ever agreed on. The more things change, the more things stay the same. We still don't agree on anything.

(Let's see, that's Mike Mathias, Tim Rock, Jessica McBride, James Wigderson. We have enough members to form our own club. The "I attended college with James Wigderson" club.)

The hospital question unasked and unaswered

One question not asked by Aurora, but one I offer up to any reporter willing to ask, "Do you feel duped by ProHealth's opposition to a competing hospital in Western Waukesha given that ProHealth has revealed their long-term plans to expand and renovate Oconomowoc Memorial?" Let's ask the following politicians:

Supervisors Herro, Jeskewitz, Haukohl, Harenda, Mitchell, Tortomasi, Cummings, Stroud, Thelen, Hutton, Broesch, Wolff, Kallin, Kramer, Jaske, Nilson and Singert.

{Former supervisors Kipp & Roncke were defeated last election, former Supervisor Klein is now mayor of Pewaukee, former Supervisor Manke retired.}

All of these Waukesha County Supervisors voted against the Aurora proposal to build a new hospital in Summit. Do they feel stupid now? Used? Abused? What about the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board? Anyone else that I forgot?

Someday I'll have a choice of hospitals

As long as I'm obsessing over my (lack of) health, Laurel Walker in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found the Aurora Health Care internet site, which has it's own little Q&A. Here's some of the questions and answers Walker didn't get to:

Q: ProHealth’s new ad campaign for Oconomowoc Memorial has the theme, “It’s already here.” If it’s already here, why undertake more than $80 million in fix-up work?
A: Obviously, it’s not already here.

Q: Why should ProHealth be allowed to build when Aurora has been blocked from doing so?
A: That’s a good question – one that should be asked of your local elected officials.

And one question Walker did have in her column:

Q: Will Aurora oppose the renovation and expansion of Oconomowoc Memorial?
A: We think ProHealth Care should be free to invest in ways that enhance care for its patients. We believe that Aurora should be allowed to do the same.

Here's some questions from a Q&A on the proposed LifeCare Hospital:

Q: What is the approval process for the LifeCare hospital?
A: The project requires only City of Waukesha approval. The LifeCare site required a zoning change, which has been approved by the Waukesha Common Council. The vote in favor was unanimous and came after very little discussion. Among those voting was Ald. Kathleen Cummings, who also sits on the Waukesha County Board. Cummings was opposed to the Aurora project and voted against it when the matter came before the County Board on April 26, 2005. Also voting in favor of the LifeCare project was Ald. Rick Tortomasi, who spoke against the Aurora project at a public hearing on Feb. 15, 2005.

Q: What has ProHealth Care said about this proposed new hospital?
A: Very little. For years now, ProHealth has vigorously opposed any effort by Aurora Health Care to build a hospital in western Waukesha County. Within hours of Aurora’s announcement of plans for a hospital in the Town of Summit, ProHealth’s senior leaders condemned the project in the strongest terms. But on the LifeCare project, they seem to have nothing to say.

Q: So how do we interpret ProHealth’s silence? Why isn’t ProHealth raising concerns about rising health care costs, duplication of services and excess hospital capacity?
A: This much seems clear: The objections ProHealth has raised about the Aurora project are not genuine. It is concerned chiefly with preserving the hospital monopoly it now enjoys in the western half of the county.

What am I taking?

"You should avoid prolonged or excessive exposure to direct and/or artificial sunlight while taking this medicine."

What the hell did the quack prescribe me, essence of Nosferatu?

Is that the Milwaukee choo-choo?

Chris at Spotted Horse has vacation pictures from San Francisco and they look just like the proposed electric bus system here - only more efficient.

Meanwhile, mass transit turned into mass standstill today when thousands riding Amtrak between Washington D.C. and New York City were stuck during a power outage. Good thing it wasn't Winter.

Where's the giraffe?

Today we learned from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Michael McGee, Jr. is really Michael Jackson. No, really.

Does this mean the Milwaukee alderman can go into voluntary exile in Dubai, too?

For some reason I had a different experience

The commercial:
I was sailing down the Zampezi river fighting off angry tribesmen and hungry crocodiles when I suddenly realized that I had forgotten my foot fungus prescription. After a short ride upstream on the back of an angry hippopotamus I discovered there was a Walgreens in my area - and they were open 24 hours! I went to the pharmacy counter, and the trained pharmacist found my prescription in the computer system and was able to give me my prescription in five minutes!

Thanks Walgreens.

The reality:
My doctor called Walgreens to phone in a prescription before 9:00am. At 11:00am, I pulled into my suburban Walgreens drive-thru.
"I'm here to pick up a prescription for James Wigderson."
"Have you been to a Walgreens before for a prescription?"
Rolling my eyes, "Yes, yes I have."
"Phone number please."
"262-###-####"
After some shuffling around in the back, she said into the microphone, "I'm sorry, sir. We had trouble finding you in the system. Could you come back in about fifteen minutes?"

Thanks Walgreens.

I'm sick

My cold has gotten worse. Which means I get to go see the quack again.

"Doctor": So how's your high blood pressure?
Me: I never had high blood pressure.
"Doctor": Oh, yeah. (Pretends to write something on my chart.) So what's the trouble?
Me: I've had a cold for over a week, and it's getting worse.
"Doctor": Sinus infection. And you have an ear infection. Take this, this and this. And I'm glad to see you're keeping your blood pressure under control.
Me: Hey Doc, you ever read my column in the Waukesha Freeman?
"Doctor": No, I'm sorry, I usually skip the advice columns.

Of course, there are some upsides to being sick. Like sympathy from my wife:

What do you mean you're staying home sick today? I've got a lot to do. If you think I'm taking care of you AND the kids AND running my business today, YOU'RE CRAZY. And the kids better not get sick, too. Do you think I get to lay in bed all day when I'm sick? Who do you think watches the kids while you're at work?

"Yes, dear."

Then there's the wonderful tasting orange medicine. I think I would prefer what Socrates drank for the last time.

The sound of my children playing quietly to allow Daddy to get better. "Daddy! She started it! I tried to keep her out of my room!" "DA DA!"

The daytime television. "Okay, let's see, Daddy can watch the news, or..." "WE WANT HEFFALUMP!" "Okay, but I think maybe this one day..." "HEFFALUMP! AND THEN HALLOWEEN HEFFALUMP! And then JAY JAY THE JET PLANE!"

The home-cooked meal for lunch. "There's hot dogs in the 'fridge."

I miss the office.

I think I was last shocked by Bob Dylan

Run, don't walk, to the nearest gas station or Waukesha Freeman newspaper box, hand over a couple of quarters, and read my latest column. (I'm told there's a rumor among the copy editors that Editor Bill Yorth lost a bet and that's why my column runs every Thursday.)

This week I take on the Material Girl, the Boy Toy, Evita, and whatever other name she uses scrawled on men's room walls coast-to-coast, Madonna.

An excerpt:

But what can we expect from a concert tour that promises the following (from her Web site): “A politicized video montage starring Adolf Hitler, Dick Cheney, Tony Blair, Osama bin Laden, Richard Nixon, George Bush and starving African children”?

Yippee, we’re going for the whole cliché at $350 per ticket. Can I save myself the money and read a column by Maureen Dowd instead?

Saudis held after boarding Fla. school bus

I'm just full of good news. Must be my ongoing cold. Two Saudis are being held after boarding a school bus in Florida, and then giving conflicting statements why they were there.

Mana Saleh Almanajam, 23, and Shaker Mohsen Alsidran, 20, were charged with misdemeanor trespassing and were jailed after a judge said Saturday she wanted more background information on them. A hearing was scheduled Tuesday.

The two men arrived in the country six months ago on student visas and are enrolled at the English Language Institute at the University of South Florida.

Investigators said they boarded the school bus Friday, sat down and began speaking in Arabic. Their behavior concerned the driver, a substitute, who alerted the school district.

The men were asked why they boarded the bus, and sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said they gave different answers: They wanted to enroll in an easier English language program than the one at USF; they wanted to see a high school; and they thought it would be fun.

This should scare the Hell outta you

Bloomberg news is reporting a possible case of human-to-human transmission of the bird flu virus. (ht: Tom McMahon)

I understand skepticism about the threat of a pandemic, but let me the voice of doom and gloom for a minute. If a pandemic breaks out in the United States, 40% of the work force could be out at any given time because of the flu, or caring for someone who has the flu, or quarantine orders. Unlike the typical flu, the bird flu may actually hit the healthiest population the hardest because it could use the victims' immune system against them. There are not enough hospital beds. There are not enough medical practitioners, and many of those that we have may not even show up.

We're looking at a potential catastrophic loss of life and a real blow to the global economy.

So how's your day going now?

Air America affiliate may be coming to Milwaukee

Air America may be coming to Milwaukee. I had the rare opportunity to actually catch the technicians installing the transmitter tower.

I'll bet Charlie Sykes and Mark Belling are just shaking in their boots.

Child safety alert

Dad29 is passing on this tip for parents in the western area of Brookfield (City OR Town), or in eastern Pewaukee, or northern Waukesha. A 30-ish male driving a royal blue Cherokee/Explorer-type vehicle has been stopping to talk to young children.

Now is as good as a time as any to remind your children not to talk to strangers.

Katie, is that you?

According to my handy-dandy website traffic counter, somebody from CBS, Inc., is looking for blogs about spanking. (Warning, link has foul language and pornographic subject matter.)

I'm happy to report this post is #1 for that search. (Warning, link makes fun of liberal columnist from Madison.)

Mythbusters Live at the Pabst Theater

Amy Pawlak gets starstruck and learns a better way to keep beer cold, all in the same evening:

After the Q & A, Jamie and Adam {of Mythbusters} did what they do best. They experimented.

This being Milwaukee, they had four volunteers come up on stage and gave each a cooler and a can of beer. They made one a control, gave one a cooler of ice, the second a cooler of ice and water, and the third a cooler of ice, water and salt. After five minutes, the beer was tested and - just like the show - the cooler with the ice/salt/water mix had the coldest beer.

But Jamie and Adam never stop there. A myth - or a demonstration - isn't complete until it's over-the-top. So they took the last can of beer, stuck it in a 5-gallon bucket, and blasted it with the contents of five fire extinguishers. Naturally, this can of beer was the coldest.

What kind of cells were those?

Seth Zlotocha, who is keeping himself informed on all the latest incontinence, finds a report on stem-cells reducing the need for Depends. He sneers, "At least one Republican just got another reason to dislike stem cell research," referring to Congressman Jim Sensenbreenner, whose personal wealth comes from Kimberly-Clark.

Of course, Zlotocha ignores that it is adult stem cells that are giving these results. Adult stem cell research is, of course, supported by everyone including pro-life Republicans because they do not require the destruction of human embryos. (Note 5/24: Zlotocha has since clarified his post. See comments below for explanation. And in his original post he did say the stem cells were taken from the muscle tissue of the adult test subject.)

Liberals often get their undies all wet whenever they hear of a possible cure involving stem-cell research, but they often forget to mention that the research showing the most promise and only results are in adult stem cells.

Somehow I don't think Nancy will do it

Dave Diamond suggests to Nancy Pelosi the Democrats should toss Congressman William Jefferson out of the Democratic caucus to send a message that contrasts with the Republicans rallying around Tom Delay.

It's an interesting suggestion, but the Democrats will rally to one of their own, especially a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, just as Republicans rally to their members.

Just the way of the world.

Sometimes the next generation makes me feel better than the last

Dad29 has a report on some high school graduates who know better than federal judges on what's appropriate at a high school graduation.

State Convention news

Tim Michels does not announce he's running for the US Senate. Tells off-color jokes instead. Owen has the audio of his speech.

Sean hands out the TAM Hospitality Suite Awards. Not only does Terri McCormick get repeatedly snubbed, she gets low marks for having Karaoke in her hospitality suite.

Kevin grades the hospitality suites. Not only does Terri McCormick get repeatedly snubbed, she gets low marks for having Karaoke in her hospitality suite.

Joey at Wide White gives the best and the worst of the convention. Terri McCormick gets snubbed, but Joey likes crackers right out of the box.

Both Bucher and Van Hollen go long on their speeches. According to Owen at Boots & Sabers, Bucher has improved on his delivery. Unsurprisingly, Van Hollen wins the Wispolitics.com straw poll. Wispolitics also covers both the JB VanHollen and Paul Bucher speeches.

If Bucher's candidacy for State Attorney General does no other good in this world, forcing Governor Doyle to remove Lenard Wells would certainly be a major accomplishment.

State Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz spoke about reducing taxes. Lightning didn't strike but every blogger complained about the wi-fi access. Schultz and Tim Michels apparently have the same sense of not for prime-time humor.

Sean at The American Mind (and other bloggers) sat down for a chat with Congressman Mark Green. He also has audio.

Kevin at lakeshore Laments has the mainstream media round-ups here and here.

Judging from the reports, I'd say Congressman Mark Green succeeded in motivating the party. We'll see if he can carry that momentum through to November.

The Democrats' state convention is in LaCrosse June 9th and 10th. I understand state cars will get free parking at the convention site.

More bloggy stuff

Nick Schweitzer has moved his blog to his own domain name. Tom McMahon's blog turned three years old sometime this last week. Mandy Jenkins's photo improves. Mike at Spring City only reads Mandy for the picture.

Wispolitics.com continues to cover the state convention, as does Lakeshore Laments, Boots and Sabers, Right Off the Shore, The American Mind, Fraley's Dailytakes, Wide White, and Jessica McBride.

Nick Schweitzer is hosting this week's Carnival of the Badger. The details are all at Nick's place.

McCain?

Brian Hagedorn is willing to give him a second chance. Scott Feldstein and I each take a turn in the comments.

Barbaro injured, Bernardini wins the Preakness

I'm stunned. First Barbaro broke the gate early. Then shortly into the race he pulled up lame. Bernardini was an 11:1 shot but managed to win convincingly. Mark Belling's alternate pick, Sweetnorthernsaint, looked like a decent bet at 8:1, but the horse led too early and faded, ending a distant second. Hemingway's Key at 22:1 really had no chance but makes the trifecta value shoot up finishing third.

I saved myself $50 by not making it to the track.

Update!
From ESPN:

Congressman Mark Green's Speech to the Republican State Convention

(text supplied by Green for Wisconsin)

Thank you, Governor Thompson. I’m so proud to have your friendship, your advice … and your support.

Twenty years ago, you rescued this state and made us a national leader. You’ve inspired so many of us into public service. I promise you, we will not let you down. Will we?

Scott Walker … thank you … we always said we hoped our friendship would survive this process. I am fortunate to have you on my team, but even more fortunate to have you as a friend.

My family is here with me today. Sue, my wife and partner on so many adventures … UW-Eau Claire, law school, teaching in Africa, the State Assembly and Congress … and, most important, parenthood.

My kids really have a wonderful mom … between soccer games and swim meets, and basketball and piano, Sue Green manages to make it all work … and still have time to listen to me complain about how busy my day was!

Sue grew up on a farm down in Walworth County … where her parents and her brother still farm.

There’s a lot of talk these days about building urban-rural partnerships … about uniting the different parts of our state. Well, Sue and my urban-rural partnership has been going strong for over 20 years.

My three children, Rachel, Anna and Alex … they’re not only great kids, but they provide invaluable advice to me and the campaign. They’ve taught me how to work an iPod … and thanks to them, I know that a TomKat sighting doesn’t refer to a war plan.

Now Anna has a soccer game in a few hours down in Neenah, and if her dad doesn’t go on too long, she just might make it! Don’t worry, we’ll go with the two-hour version … not the three-hour one we practiced last night!

I tell you, I look around this room, and I walk around this convention, and I get a feeling … I get a feeling my friends … it’s been twenty years since we knocked out of office an out-of-touch Democratic governor, and I get a feeling it’s time to do it again!

Are you ready? I hope you are … because – just like 20 years ago – our beloved Wisconsin is sliding down the wrong track.

As I travel this state, I see too many folks worried about our future. Our taxes are too high, our business climate is faltering, our schools are letting down the very families who need them most …

And Jim Doyle, well, he’s nowhere to be found … unless, of course, you can write a big campaign check!

My friends, one of the great things about our state is that we’ve always known who we are, and what we stand for. After all, you say “Wisconsin” and people think: beautiful state … bold ideas … interesting headgear …

Let’s face it: it takes a little self-confidence to walk around with a wedge of cheese on your head – and I am willing to bet that many of you here can pull it off with style.

Cheeseheads with attitude!

But that’s what I mean! We know who we are. We’ve never worried much about what others may think, because we’re usually out in front, leading the way.

That is, until now.

Sure, under Jim Doyle, we’re still leaders, but it’s in taxes, and lawsuits and the loss of good-paying jobs.

We’re here because we can do better! And we will do better!

I believe in the future of this state because I believe in the strength of our people. Our people are good … and strong … and hopeful … and hardworking.

No matter how hard Jim Doyle and his friends are trying to move the state one way … our people will keep trying to move forward.

Republicans, it’s time for us to come to the rescue. It’s time to offer folks leadership that listens … leadership that trusts them … it’s time to make Wisconsin great again.

My friends, it’s time for Jim Doyle to go, and I accept your nomination to show him the door!

We gather here united as Republicans … but we’ll leave here bonded as Wisconsinites … with a clear mission to recapture the Wisconsin spirit.

Under Jim Doyle, even though government may be for sale, our famous “can-do” spirit is not.

Because our people understand what Jim Doyle doesn’t.

Our problem isn’t that we’re under-taxed. It’s not that we’re under-regulated. It’s not that we’re under-sued. It’s just that we’re under-led.

Time after time, issue after issue, the big difference between Jim Doyle and Mark Green is the difference between trusting in government … and trusting in the people.

Ronald Reagan used to say: “Stop putting your faith in the false gods of bureaucracy. Trust the genius of the American people again.”

He was right. As Republicans, we should go with the people every time.

It’s true on taxes. Heck, that’s what the battle over taxes is all about – who can spend your money more wisely. You … or Jim Doyle.

We must stand strong for lowering the tax burden – because it’s robbing families of their dreams and sapping this state of her strength.

Wisconsin’s tax burden is the 7th highest in the country. Our state and local taxes are nearly 10% more than the national average.

Jim Doyle had his chance to help our taxpayers, and he failed.

He failed by vetoing a property tax freeze three times in just three years … and now those taxes have risen another $600 million.

He failed by mismanaging our state budget so badly that we now have one of the worst deficits in the county.

He failed by stealing from our children’s future, and putting his massive spending increases on the taxpayers’ credit card.

He failed because our state’s tax burden is tying an anchor to every entrepreneur, every senior, every graduate, every family. When they find the ladder of opportunity, big government is right there to hold them back and hold them down.

But you and I are going to toss that weight aside – we won’t stand for it any more.

I support constitutional limits on taxes and spending on all levels of government … it’s time we empower taxpayers with the right to simply say, “no more!”

It all boils down to this: I began this campaign with this simple pledge: Elect me as your governor, and Wisconsin’s tax burden will improve, or I won’t run for re-election. I’ll keep my promise … or step aside for someone who will.

To make Wisconsin great again, we must do more than lower our tax burden – we must also ensure that our young people have the education they need and deserve.

There is no challenge more important to me or to our state. And just like taxes, I believe good education policy is a matter of trusting people over special interests.

Under Governor Green, our schools will serve the needs of our families, not just the wish list of WEAC.

Some of you know that Sue and I spent a year as volunteer teachers in Africa just after finishing college. Where we taught, education wasn’t compulsory and it wasn’t free.

In our village, families had to pay a school fee for their children to attend. From time to time, the headmaster would appear in our classrooms and call out the names of the kids who hadn’t paid, and they would have to leave. It was a heartbreaking thing to watch … but then something inspiring would happen … the same children who were removed from the classroom actually would quietly sneak back in.

They were desperate to learn … all of our kids want to learn. I believe there is an innate desire in young people to learn. Unleashing their potential should be the goal of our schools – not just protecting tenure and fringe benefits for employees.

Education funding will always be a top priority, but we’ll also demand accountability. Good teachers, and there are lots of them, should have their pay based on merit – not on how long they occupy a chair.

And our education dollars should actually reach our classrooms – not get lost in the bureaucracy.

A few months back, I met a great lady in Milwaukee who said to me, “Mark, you know when you see that shiny banner at a school that says ‘No Child Left Behind?’ Well, they’ve been leaving my kids behind for years.”

I know there are some out there who would wish away our education challenges, or sweep them under the rug. That won’t happen on my watch. We’re going to stand with and for that mother I met.

In Milwaukee Public Schools, only about one of out three African American children will graduate. And Wisconsin’s achievement gap between white and minority students is among the worst in the nation.

Jim Doyle is standing in the schoolhouse door, blocking thousands of families from their dreams. But you and I are going to kick the door in.

We’ll support charters, we’ll support choice and we’ll support home schooling … and we’ll never settle for second best when it comes to our kids’ education.

And the same must be true for our University of Wisconsin. Sue and I are proud – so proud – to be alums of the UW system. But I worry that it’s losing its way.

Under this administration, the UW has been so wrapped up in red tape and bureaucratic maneuvers that they’ve actually been hiring convicted sex offenders, shelling out $700-a-month car stipends, creating hundreds of high-paying “back up” jobs … even jacking up tuition for Wisconsin families while slashing out-of-state tuition at the very same time.

We are headed toward an era when anyone can go to the UW – unless you’re actually from Wisconsin.

And the very people Jim Doyle put in charge of the university can’t understand why everyone is so worked up.

“But you don’t understand,” they exclaim in a patronizing tone. But we do.

While they defend turf, and programs, and perks, we defend students … and we’ll fight for their interests and their dreams.

It’s the same old story. Over and over again, Jim Doyle seems to confuse moving Wisconsin forward with moving it toward his friends.

He seems to confuse creating jobs for families with creating jobs for trial lawyers.

He seems to confuse investing in our children with investing in the WEAC agenda.

Jim Doyle is so addicted … he’s so addicted … to special interest cash that when I asked him to agree to run a clean campaign and limit spending to $1 per Wisconsinite – that’s five and a half million dollars – he wanted no part of it.

He’s selling the soul of our state, and we’re not going to stand for it anymore! Are we?

My friends, fellow Republicans, it’s time for us to go to work. It’s time for us to remember our principles … to remember the lessons of Lincoln and Reagan and Tommy Thompson.

It’s time for us to boldly take the lead. Our state motto is “Forward,” not “let’s see what the bureaucrats or special interest contributors have to say.”

Remember, our state capital is named for James Madison, the Founding Father who wrote this of our newborn nation: “yes, this is new … yes, this has never been tried … many things Americans have done have never been tried before.”

At a time when every new toothpaste is hailed as “revolutionary,” it’s easy to lose sight of the true meaning of the word … but what those early Americans were trying was exactly that, revolutionary.

The unprecedented idea that ordinary people could govern themselves.

That was it. That was the nugget that electrified the world, and set history on a whole new course.

The early settlers in Wisconsin were fired by that idea … and they were followed by wave after wave from across the sea, all stirred by visions of a new and better life in this new and revolutionary world.

They were Norwegians and Germans and Irish and others. They brought us their beer and sausage and cheese, their love of the outdoors.

As one writer put it, they also brought us “ideas and influences from [an] aroused Old World.” Notions that nourished and invigorated their new homeland.

They gave birth to a new political party called the Republicans, a new social experiment called kindergarten, a new movement to create a genuinely popular, democratic and progressive model of government – government that responded to the people, not well-funded interests.

Of all the states, it was only in Wisconsin that all of these influences came together and took root, and led President Theodore Roosevelt to call us “a pioneer blazing the way [for] America.”

Decades later, another leader appeared on the scene, again spouting “new” and “radical” ideas about welfare reform and education and economic growth.

Tommy Thompson and his ideas succeeded not only in reforming and rejuvenating Wisconsin herself, but making the Badger State a challenge for the rest of the nation to follow.

Tommy’s ideas took hold and took flight because they were firmly rooted in who we are.

What a difference a few years makes …

Jim Doyle and his crew say they want to keep Wisconsin moving forward, but they just can’t seem to grasp the fundamentals of what makes us different … what makes us special … what makes us Wisconsin.

They’re stuck in the Madison mindset of minutiae and maneuvering.

Just look at the choices the Doyle crew has made:

Allowing state employees to donate their own money to faith-based groups through the state’s charitable giving program? That’s a no-no.

But the university using its limited funds to launch a class called “Vampires in Literature and Film?” No problem with that.

A student RA holding a Bible study in the privacy of his own dorm room? Heaven forbid.

But taking millions in contributions and then giving out permanent gaming compacts. That doesn’t smell bad at all!

Allowing schools to refuse to hire convicted felons? You’ve got to be crazy.

But letting a cop killer out of prison? Why not.

Allowing family piers with more than two boats? How could you!

But in-state tuition and home loans for illegal immigrants? They don’t see a problem there.

Their disdain for our everyday beliefs and values is astonishing!

You are going to hear a lot from me in the coming months about what I think is wrong about the Doyle administration … but it comes directly from a deep-seated belief in what is right about Wisconsin.

I believe we need to respect and fight for the values that made us what we are. Values like faith and family, hard work, love of country, devotion to the outdoor life.

I believe that family is central to a healthy society, and marriage should be clearly defined.

I believe human life is a gift from God, and it deserves our protection.

I believe we should invest in finding cures to diseases that are robbing families of their loved ones – and we can do that without leaving our moral compass behind.

I believe sex offenders belong in prison, not in our neighborhoods.

I believe immigration has enriched the soul of this state. My own parents are immigrants, and I am proud to be a first-generation American.

As governor, I will always welcome legal immigrants, and I will work to honor them by stemming the tide of illegal immigration.

I believe we need to break down unnecessary barriers that hurt faith-based organizations as they work to lift lives and heal neighborhoods.

I believe democracy is rooted in the principle that every citizen should have his vote counted, but only once. And I promise you, 2006 will be the last time you can vote without an ID!

My friends, we will run with an agenda this is not only worthy of election, but worthy of Wisconsin.

I want to tap into the strength and character and ingenuity of our people.

I want us thinking big again – not big government – but big ideas, big dreams.

And like the people I hope to serve, I’m not one to shrink from a challenge.

Most people don’t know this, but for much of my life, I competed in swimming. Now, even my own father has said I wasn’t the most gifted of athletes, or even the most gifted of swimmers [by the way, thanks Dad].

But he always knew I had the drive and the discipline to be the best that I could be – which was an All-American, three times.

Let me tell you, a January morning in Green Bay or on the UW-Eau Claire campus is a mighty cold, dark and forbidding thing to behold … where the idea of staying under the blankets is a lot more enticing than jumping into that pool.

But if you have a goal in sight and a plan to get you there – well, then you plunge right in and you get it done.

You don’t just dip your toe in and wait to see what the trial lawyers have to say.

I am plunging myself into this campaign, body and soul, because I truly believe we need to get Wisconsin moving back in the right direction … back to where people are in charge, not special interests.

I’ve already mentioned that my parents are immigrants. My mom is from England; my dad was raised in South Africa.

I was fortunate enough to have been born in this country, in Boston, when my dad was doing a residency. But soon after that, our family moved to Australia, where my father taught medicine for a couple of years.

Then one day, he gets a letter from a friend – the only American he really knew – who asks my dad if he would help develop a clinic in a place called Green Bay.

Well, my father had never heard of Green Bay. But he came, and he helped build that clinic, and he never left.

My brothers and I got to grow up in Green Bay … we got to grow up fishing and camping, living and dying with the Packers, sucking down sweet corn and … well, you get the picture.

A few years ago I asked my dad, I said “here you are, a guy living in Australia, born in South Africa, arriving in Green Bay in November, and yet you decided to stay. Why?”

And he said, “because everything a family could ask for is right here in Wisconsin.”

And that, my friends, is what this campaign is about.

It is about building a brighter future.

A future where my family – my beautiful wife, Sue, my kids Rachel, Anna, and Alex – where my family, and your family, and every family in Wisconsin can have that good job, own a nice home, enjoy the beauty of our state and afford to stay here to watch the next generation achieve even greater things.

A future where once again we have the confidence to aim high, think big and make a difference … all the while never forgetting who we are and what we stand for.

A future where all of us move forward together, sure in the knowledge that we are different … we are special … we are Wisconsin!

Thank you very much. I’m honored to be your nominee. God bless you all, and God bless the great state of Wisconsin!

But the book sold well

John Miller over at National Review Online notes that reviews are not exactly going well for The DaVinci Code. My two favorite quotes:

New York Times: "I certainly can't support any calls for boycotting or protesting this busy, trivial, inoffensive film. Which is not to say I'm recommending you go see it."

Variety: "An oppressively talky film that isn't exactly dull, but comes as close to it as one could imagine with such provocative material; result is perhaps the best thing the project's critics could have hoped for."

As long as Ron Howard is taking best-sellers and making movies out of them overly-crammed with dialogue, any chance he could direct Atlas Shrugged? Talk about a movie with dialogue! And that author hated religion, too!

ya know, this internet thing might just catch on

First news of the State GOP Convention:
Mark Green announces the Green list of county coordinators.

Interesting to note for those of us in Waukesha County, the Green campaign coordinator is Kent Woods, who ran unsuccessfully for state assembly last fall in a special election. Woods lost in part because of lobbying activity opposing a Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

If guns cause violence

Shouldn't the Midwest Airlines Convention Center look like the O.K. Corral right now?

Journal Sentinel weighs in on Savoie case

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel takes a bold stand in the Glenn Savoie controversy now that it's over. They suggest that Alderman Kathleen Cummings should have "a greater sense of curiousity" and that local governments should do background checks when appointing members to a governing body.

I'm told by secret sources that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is working on a boffo editorial suggesting that in light of the Hindenburg accident that maybe something other than hydrogen should be used in drigibles.

Watch out for the moving vans

Everyone change your links. Jessica McBride moved her blog over to WTMJ's website.

I still can't find an RSS feed for Charlie Sykes or Jeff Wagner. Now I won't have one for McBride. Do they think about me when they do these things?

I'll get around to changing the links later today.

Big weekend for Green for Governor

The Republican State Convention meets this weekend in Appleton, and for the first time Congressman Mark Green gets to speak as the nominee for the party for governor. I gave a little background and a sneak peak at the Green Team's theme for the convention in my weekly Waukesha Freeman column.

I will not be attending this weekend, but I will be following the convention closely in between popping cold tablets and chasing the kids. Other blogs will be there: Boots & Sabers, Lakeshore Laments, American Mind and Right off the Shore. Wispolitics.com will also be there, and they will have a blog, too. As soon as I get the link I'll note it here.

I expect little breaking news out of the state convention unless Tim Michels or Tommy Thompson announce they are taking on Senator Herb Kohl. If they have a straw poll for attorney general I would guess Van Hollen would win, but that would be completely meaningless at this point. We might see some dissension on taxes and gay marriage, but really the biggest controversy will be where delegates choose to eat lunch.

Update! Ask and ye shall receive. Wispolitics.com now has their link up, and you're two days behind on your reading. Wispolitics.com is conducting the undercover straw poll that nobody wants.

The big news so far: ice cream.

How to let everyone know you're hiding a secret

The Germantown School District just attracted a whole lotta attention to their standardized test results by putting the test results on Monday's meeting agenda under "closed session". Oh yeah, that's going to fly. Sure enough, when a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter asked about it they suddenly changed their minds and pulled it off the schedule.

If I had a kid in that school district, I would definitely plan on requesting a copy of the results when they become publicly available on Tuesday.

Going for illegal status

Given the amount of hassle to buy legal cold medicine my wife just had to go through: the long wait, the forms, the invasion of privacy, the denial of her first preference and then having to start all over again, I don't think it's worth the effort to do things the legal way.

No, I've decided that since it's easier to buy illegal drugs that it would be silly of me to buy legal drugs.

Now, granted, I may have to go a little out of my way to buy them, and I may have to deal with some shady characters, and there will be some risk involved, but it's not like there's a wall preventing me from buying illegal drugs. A few overworked federal agents - maybe.

But when I tell people why I'm going the illegal route, I'm sure nobody will turn me in, right? After all, I'm really just speeding up the progress by going illegal. And after some time, the government may even legalize the illegal cold medicine, or at least offer amnesty.

Besides, I'm really, really desperate, otherwise I would never consider going illegal. And other than the way I got my cold medicine, I'm a normal law abiding citizen. I pay taxes. I'm just like all of you, except illegal.

You have no right to look at me differently. After all, I'm just one of millions of illegal drug users. And I've been using cold medicine in this country long before many of you. My Norwegian ancestors got a cold in North America before almost all of your ancestors. Would you deny me my heritage as an indigenous North American cold sufferer? You racists.

My head is stuffed with snot

My wife just returned from Walgreens with cold medicine and Red Vine licorice. I'm unhappy to report that my wife discovered Walgreens now operates like the printer ink counter at a computer store. You grab the tag from the shelf and, oops, sorry Ma'am, we're all out of the good stuff.

Eventually she finds some medicine they have in stock and pulls out her identification. Walgreens now has a huge binder system where they take down all of your information and then they make you sign the ledger. Picture the worst description any liberal has come up with to describe the NSA telephone number databank - and then revert the technology to a time before IBM punch cards.

She comes home and tells me the horror story expecting sympathy when I tell her the good news. According to the state election board, you don't even need an id card to register to vote. However, they'll still ask you who you are (wink, wink) and write your name down before they hand you a ballot (or two or three, depending on which ward and city you're in).

And given what I hear about the computerization of the voting process, we may wish our election technology reverted back to before IBM punch cards.

Feingold goes Feingold

Senator Russ Feingold threw a tantrum and stormed out of a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting during a debate on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Well, that's one way to demonstrate you have the temperament to be President.

Washington hasn't seen behavior like that out of a Wisconsin Senator since Joe McCarthy.

I commented back in March that there came "a point where 'maverick' becomes 'fringe' or even a 'crank.' " Once we get past "crank", Feingold finds his own definition.

Where is the safest place to be this weekend?

How about downtown Milwaukee? This weekend is the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, and it's being held at the Midwest Airlines Center Thursday through Sunday. It looks as if there are plenty of exhibits open to the public.

Maybe Democrats Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Governor Jim Doyle should stop by and ask some questions. After all, it doesn't sound like they're too knowledgeable about gun ownership and the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is determined to be a good host. Tonight Walker is hosting a reception at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Congressman Mark Green, Republican candidate for governor, is also not letting the NRA visit without taking a moment to contrast himself with Governor Doyle,

"I want to welcome the National Rifle Association to Wisconsin and thank them for choosing to spend some time and some money in our great state. We have a wonderful sporting heritage here in Wisconsin, and, despite the sentiments of some of our current political leaders, we are glad to have you here.

"Yesterday, Jim Doyle decided to issue a challenge to the NRA. Well, as a hunter and a gun owner, I have a challenge for Jim Doyle. I'm challenging Jim Doyle to explain why it is he called the constitutional amendment that guarantees our right to keep and bear arms an 'extremely radical proposal.'

"Jim Doyle should explain what is so radical about law-abiding citizens exercising their constitutional rights. He should also explain why this 'extremely radical proposal' was endorsed by 74% of the state's voters in 1998.

"Best I can tell, it is Jim Doyle's opposition to our sporting rights that is extremely radical. Elect me governor, and I'll abide by the extremely radical idea that the law-abiding people of this state can be trusted to own a gun to hunt, to sport shoot and to protect themselves and the people they love from those who seek to do them harm."

Shakedown

The Waukesha Freeman reports negotiators for the Oconomowoc teachers' union walked out of negotiations after the school district offered a four percent increase this year and a four percent increase next year. The teachers' union wants a twenty percent increase over two years.

I think Tony Soprano offers a better vig. What cracks me up is when the teachers complain they need a bigger increase to keep up with the cost of living. Don't they realize they are driving up the cost of living with their outrageous demands?

Instead of campaign literature, maybe she should handout business cards

Kevin from Lakeshore Laments has the latest round-up of what "they" are saying about the congressional race in the 8th district. Among the comments he cites, this one from Stuart Rothenberg pretty much sums up what's left of the Republican primary in that district:

In Wisconsin, Democrats have a three-way primary on Sept. 12, but they already know who their GOP opponent will be: state Rep. John Gard, the Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly.

Will State Rep. Terri McCormick's supporters recognize it's over?

Imminent threat

I have a question. After Milwaukee Alderman Michael McGee Jr. threatened the life of the woman pregnant with his child in the middle of a court room, does Kimley Rucker now meet the Abrahamson/Walsh Bradley standard for carrying a concealed weapon?

blog of the month club

I somehow missed this. I was named "Blog of the Month" for April 2006, by WisOpinion.com.

James Wigderson started his blog in June 2004 and now finds himself one of the big guns of the conservative-minded corner of the Cheddarsphere. Averaging nearly 300 hits per day, Wigderson Library & Pub is frequently updated and opines a great deal about the politics of Milwaukee and surrounding area, but also maintains and interest (and opinion) in state politics.

And I didn't even have to stuff the ballot box.

Seriously, it's always nice to be recognized.

Attention span disorder

Spivak & Bice point to a New York Times story on a study of Wisconsin's welfare reforms, and they note,

It also found that a large number of welfare applicants, particularly in Milwaukee, ended up being investigated for abusing or neglecting their children.

The New York Times reports today:

Experts said they were startled by the high proportion of welfare applicants in Milwaukee who had come to the attention of child welfare officials: in a five-year period, 40 percent of the parents were investigated for the possibility of abuse or neglect, and a child had been removed from the homes of 16 percent.

Maybe it's a good thing for Thompson that he didn't run for governor this time.

You would think with two people reading the newspaper, one of them would have bothered to read the last paragraph,

Since most of these parents had already been investigated, the study did not indicate that the welfare program itself, with its required work or training efforts, was causing child abuse. But at the least, Dr. Courtney said, the findings show that many parents seeking welfare are having "a profound difficulty balancing the demands of work and parenting." (emphasis added by me)

Of course, the last paragraph doesn't exactly fit with bashing former Governor Thompson for encouraging child neglect, does it?

Where did these guys earn their journalism secret decoder rings, anyway? Via mail order?

This had to be sarcasm, right?

State Rep. Mark Pocan names Congresswoman Gwen Moore his Hero of the Week. I know it was meant in sarcasm, because the "You go girl!" tipped me off.

Wisconsin State Journal columnist admits to enjoying watching spankings

Susan Lampert Smith admits to enjoying watching others get a spanking.

When Ebert said he has never taken pleasure in sentencing anyone to prison, he sounded like my mom predicting a spanking would hurt her more than me.

Then he administered a verbal blistering worthy of Mom, who splintered more than one wooden spoon in her heyday.

...Wack, wack, wack went the judge's wooden spoon.

...But like my mom's spankings, it was more fun to watch than to receive.

I'm always amazed at what they print in a "family newspaper" but I guess that's Madison for you. I think I'm too young and innocent to read Wisconsin Family Weekends.

I can't imagine why Jensen wanted his trial moved from Madison

Can someone tell me how justice is served if Scott Jensen gets 15 months in jail, but Chuck Chvala only got nine months in jail despite crimes of a far more egregious nature?

And if having staffers of politicians do “political” work while getting paid by the taxpayers is “ethically bankrupt” as Judge Ebert put it, does this make those who advocate complete public funding of political campaigns to be true moral degenerates? Should we lock them up, too? Or perhaps create a “campaign public financing” registry for offenders belonging to Common Cause?

By the way, Rick Esenberg has a great post explaining all of the problems with the Jensen sentence. He explains in clear detail why regardless of political persuasion everyone should be concerned with the sentence Jensen received.

So let me get this straight

If I'm driving in my car across the North Side of Milwaukee, I'm not allowed to have a gun in the car in case I need it. But if I make a wrong turn and find myself surrounded by a street gang intent on taking my life and my car, then according to the State Supreme Court I can have a gun in the car .

How is the gun supposed to suddenly appear in my car? Teleportation like Star Trek? The magic of David Blaine?

Now I don't need to see the movie

John Podhoretz explains the De Vinci code.

Dan, Brian and Charlie take on the flake

Dan Deibert and Brian Fraley on WISN's Early Morning Spin discussed County Supervisor/Alderman Kathleen Cummings' withholding of information regarding Glenn Savoie from her colleagues on the City of Waukesha Common Council . They were ready to lead the recall charge. Nobody from Waukesha called in.

Charlie Sykes also names Alderman Cummings as the most clueless local politician.

I'll agree what Cummings did was stupid, and given her kooky statements at the County Board about a secret conspiracy to merge Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, I think it's fair to call her a flake. But since she did not personally benefit from keeping Savoie's criminal record concealed, I'm not so sure I could support a recall.

However, I don't live in her aldermanic district. Anyone who does live in district 9 feel free to gather your clipboards and pencils and start knocking on doors. I can't imagine you'll have a hard time gathering signatures.

This is the reason I was stuck last night?

I just found out that it was a stupid motorcade of inner city clergy to deliver a petition to the US Attorney to do what it is he's already doing: investigating the Frank Jude case. I'm glad the City of Milwaukee has the time and the extra manpower to close off downtown right in front of me just to do something completely stupid. It's not like there's any crime within a few blocks of where I was stuck just so I could see the stupid symbolic hearse go by. Here I thought someone important died and it turns out it was just the death of common sense in Milwaukee.

Annoying do-gooders

I admit it. I left the gas station without putting the cap back on. I am sorry. It will never happy again. I have learned my lesson. I will be a responsible member of society. I will conform to every edict of do-gooderism out there. I will even turn down my car stereo just so I can hear you honk your horn at me and then I will watch you wave frantically like my car is on fire.

I understand it is your duty, on a crowded freeway, to drive recklessly and not pay attention to where you are going just to let me know that I left the gas cap off when I filled up at the gas station. Never mind that you are about to crash into the sheriff's patrol car in front of you. Make sure you act like a crazy person to encourage me to stop right where I am in the middle of freeway traffic, get out of my car, and put my gas cap back on. Better yet, you first.

And for the dope who honked his horn at me twice on Main Street in Waukesha and actually stuck his head out the window to point at my gas cap, yes you are #1. Did you see which finger I used? It's my favorite driving finger, and I used it to let you know just how special you are.

Them's fightin' words

The Noonans, Paul and Danny, were bored yesterday and asked their readers to rank the Traveling Wilburys. As if they could be ranked.

But then they went too far and asked, "Who's Jeff Lynne?"

So let me ask, what's your favorite song by ELO? My favorite is So Fine, from A New World Record.

Group blogging

Ann Althouse comments on the falling out among the bloggers at PoliPundit over the immigration issue.

But I'm interested in this dispute between Byrd and Polipundit and the problem of group blogs. Group blogs, like marriages, can break down, and when they do, they can dissolve quietly and present an unreadable face to the world, or they can let the ugliness show.

I wonder how can a group blog have a breakdown like Polipundit's? After all, isn't the purpose of a group blog to have different viewpoints aired and hashed out publicly? So wouldn't you know ahead of time which viewpoints you would like to be part of the blog, and which ones you couldn't put up with?

I would contrast the PoliPundit experience with the Badger Blog Alliance that seems to relish such arguments even as there is a remarkable amount of consensus over there. I think in large part it has to do with the founder, Jib, who has his own blog Jiblog. He has to put up with strong personalities of all kinds and yet manages to keep the participants peaceful. Or perhaps it's just the nature of the people he's asked to join.

As for participating in a group blog myself, I think I'm ill-suited to participate in any project I don't have control over, and I'd be a pretty rotten moderator. Besides, I like what I'm doing here too much to take time away from it.

She's not enhancing her reputation any

Waukesha Alderman and County Supervisor told the Waukesha Freeman she knew Savoie had a record, but didn't seek clarification or warn anyone.

Cummings said Savoie, 38, asked for advice about whether his past convictions would bar him from running for the District 6 seat formerly held by Mayor Larry Nelson. She did not recall specifically when he told her, she said, and that “it’s kind of blurring together.”

Things tend to get blurry in fuzzy land. When last we checked in on Cummings, she was telling a meeting of the County Board of a conspiracy theory to merge Milwaukee County with Waukesha County. Mike at Spring City supports recalling her. I'm trusting the voters to remove her from her offices the next chance they get.

Millions for defense but not a penny (or $20) in tribute!

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was born in Port Washington. This means to get a copy of my birth certificate I had to make the long and arduous journey to the Ozaukee County courthouse in Port Washington. It's a pain-in-the-neck drive complete with the hazards of getting lost and finding the state highway patrol the hard way. When I finally arrived I found out they do not take Visa. Okay, I wrote a check.

On Friday my wife was informed by the treasurer's office in Ozaukee that the bank could not identify the account number on the check, that they want $12 in cash for the birth certificate and a $20 fee for the returned check. Again, the check was not returned due to non-sufficient funds; the check was returned because at some point in the banking process the account number entered for the check did not match the bank's records.

My wife explained to the clerk the difference, told the clerk she was not going to pay the $20 fee, and told the clerk that if they would call a 1-800# the bank would certainly clear up that the check was indeed written on a valid bank account. My wife even confirmed the bank account number by helping the clerk find where on the check she could find the routing number and the account number.

Instead of calling the bank the clerk, apparently on instructs from the County Treasurer, told my wife that I would have to drive up there again and pay in cash for the birth certificate. The only way I could avoid paying the $20 penalty fee according to the clerk was to bring a letter from my bank stating it was a bank error, complete with an explanation of why the error took place. We asked for a copy of the check that did not go through and they waited until 3:00pm in the afternoon to fax it over.

Of course, to these petty insignificant bureaucrats in their own little fiefdom of ignorance, it seems perfectly reasonable that someone two counties away is going to make the long trip again. But because they did not fax over the check that did not go through until late Friday, I considered the issue postponed until Monday (today).

Today I tried to reach the clerk my wife dealt with, but she was out for the day. So I was put over to the voice mail of the County Treasurer Karen Makoutz (up for election in 2007).

I'm a little less reasonable than my wife. I left a message for the treasurer stating that since Ozaukee County is so far away from me, that it would really just make more sense to put a replacement check for $12 today. I then left a number for her to call me.

Now I don't know what is the experience of most people in Ozaukee County when dealing with their treasurer. But Ms. Makoutz has a lot to learn about customer service and good manners when it comes to dealing with people from outside her little fiefdom.

When Makoutz called me back, she had the tone in her voice that I was some sort of deadbeat trying to cheat Ozaukee County out of $12. She complained that I was not sending her a check from a different bank account. I pointed out to her that as far as I am concerned the check she had in her hand was good, but that I was willing to send her another check today. She complained we promised to come in person Friday. When I pointed out to her that I didn't get the fax until late Friday, and that I am not planning on making any trips to Ozaukee County until November, and that it was her bank's error, she reluctantly agreed to take the check.

Then she started getting snotty with me about expecting to see it tomorrow. I pointed out that I'm mailing it today. She said that if she didn't get the check tomorrow she would call me back and that she might have to consider some "alternative way" of collecting. At which point I almost lost it when I said, "I'm not trying to cheat your county out of $12."

She and I went back and forth a couple of more times before I got disgusted, announced that she'll just have to depend on the Post Office, and hung up.

So here's my advice to Ozaukee County. Find someone competent. Find someone who isn't sitting on a thumbtack all day waiting to take it out on the public. It's an elective office. Somebody in all of Ozaukee County has to be better suited for dealing with the public than her. In the meantime, the check for $12 is in the mail.

Letting the cop killers go

Killing a police officer produces a visceral reaction in most of us. Some would advocate the death penalty, others life without parole. Killing a police officer directly strikes at those who would protect us from criminals. It is the police officer that faces the most danger in protecting our society, and whatever punishment of a murderer of a police officer carries the additional weight of the required protected status of the officer.

On the flip side there are those who see the murder of a police officer as no more than a murder of anyone else, and possibly less so. Among those is Wisconsin Parole Commission Chairman Lenard Wells, who recently pushed through the releases of two killers of a police officer.

The officer, Dennis Obradovich, was shot nine times by these men. He was thirty years old. He died while attempting to stop an armed robbery of a tavern.

The reaction of most people upon hearing of such a crime would be to demand life in prison without parole, or even the death penalty. But Lenard Wells, who had sole discretion on whether to release the two cop killers, decided to set them free. What’s worse, he’s getting ready to release more of them. One of the other killers in the Obradovich murder comes up for parole in January. In a case pending, Ben Sanders took part in the murder of two police officers, and Wells may set him free as well.

On Saturday, Waukesha District Attorney Paul Bucher (and candidate for state attorney general) called on Governor Doyle to demand Wells’ resignation. From his press release:

Attorney General Candidate Paul Bucher called for the resignation of Wisconsin Parole Commission Chairman Lenard Wells due to his outrageous release of two cop killers, saying the decision is “an insult to every law enforcement officer who puts his or her life on the line every single day.” He called on Governor Doyle to demand Wells resignation before more damage can be done.

In the recent cases, Wells ordered the discretionary release of two men who killed Milwaukee police officer Dennis Obradovich during a cocktail lounge robbery in 1975. Obradovich was shot at least 9 times. “It’s outrageous,” Bucher said. “Officer Obradovich only got to live to age 30. Why should his killers now be free?”

It's a question all of us should be asking Governor Doyle.

Savoie resigns

As quick as the scandal erupted, it's over. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Alderman Glenn Savoie resigned last night after a long conversation with Mayor Larry Nelson. As for Nelson, he deserves credit for recognizing Savoie's membership on the Common Council as a real problem and pushing Savoie to resign. What I am hoping to see now from Nelson is a reform of the selection process to include background checks for filling aldermanic vacancies. I think we can expect such a plan at the next Common Council meeting.

Tommy can you hear me?

Perhaps this is why Tommy chose not to run for governor.

Former Governor Tommy Thompson is Chairman of a new company, Armada Media, which is buying a string of local small to mid-size radio stations. The company just purchased a group of radio stations in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Armada Media hopes to have 100 stations within two years.

According to Aberdeennews.com, Chris Bernier of Fond du Lac is the company's chief operating officer and a managing director. The other managing directors are: Jim Coursolle, who lives in Wisconsin; a Minneapolis lawyer named John Larson, John Lynch of San Diego, and Terry Shockley of Madison.

I would imagine the playlists at those stations would be rather limited.

"That was Pinball Wizard by the Who. And now, a special request from station management, Tommy Can You Hear Me? by the Who..."

Maybe they'll break it up from time to time with "Beer Barrell Polka" and "On Wisconsin."

How many primaries does this guy have to win?

Congratulations to Congressman Mark Green. Barring Lee Sherman Dreyfus jumping into the race, the GOP nomination for governor is yours.

See, these are the types of stories that get you links

Of course, every man who reads it is going to have sympathy pains, bicyclist or not.

How one illegal alien got by

Jessica McBride worries that attractive state benefits may be part of the reason why illegal immigrants are flowing to our state. And even now, the governor is huddling with his advisers wondering what to do with a bill passed hy the legislature that would serve to cut state benefits for those here illegally.

But what about the private sector? Looking back at the case of Nicolas Navarrete, the alleged Waukesha bank robber who was arrested after a shoot out with police, we learn a lot about the holes in which someone here illegally can survive, and possibly thrive.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Navarette and brother operated the Tagueria Tejupil Mexican Restaurant before it fell on hard times. The paper also reports he only had a second grade education and, despite having been in Southeastern Wisconsin for 25 years, he still needed to have a translator in court.

Twenty-five years, and he still needed a translator?

Navarette was sued by Waukesha State Bank in 2003 over a $17,000 loan he received from the bank in 2002. How did an illegal alien get a $17,000 loan? Whose social security number did he use?

He was also described in another report of being a "regular" at Chase bank. How was that possible? Are the banks even checking who their customers are?

Despite several run-ins with the City of Waukesha's building codes, red flags were never raised about Navarette's status. Did he never have to show proof of identity? What driver's license did he use?

He had two other brushes with the law, drunk driving and disorderly conduct, and again he continued to live here.

He's been here for twenty-five years, unassimilated (except for a bad television habit), and never was he in danger of being deported. The problems of illegal immigration go deeper than one aspect of the government. We have a tolerance for illegal immigration that goes beyond the Latino community to our banks, the private sector, and all branches of government. We can catch the illegal aliens among us, but we would have to get serious first.

Happy Birthday, State of Israel

On this date in 1948, the British withdrew, the state of Israel was declared, and President Harry Truman quickly recognized the new country. The next day, May 15th, war with Israel's neighbors broke out. Israel was attacked by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq.

By the time the armistace was signed, Israel had actually gained ground while Jordan annexed the West Bank. Jerusalem was effectively divided by Israel and Jordan, and it would stay divided until the 1967 War.

Blogging notes

Mary Eileen is no longer blogging. Something about family, children, an actual life...

Real Debate turns 1, making him a blogging veteran.

Mike at The Spring City Chronicle made the jump to Wordpress just in time to break a major story in Waukesha.

John McAdams notes the fun of having BlogAds on your blog.

Nick is going for controversy to increase his traffic.

And I don't see anyone signed up to host the Carnival of the Badger this week. If you're interested, please let Nick know.

Upcoming public appearances: I will be attending brunch at the Machine Shed tomorrow. June 3rd I will be attending the Badger Blog Alliance Spring Fling. Fans are welcome to mob me and pay me for my autograph.

The Savoie controversy grows

The strange case of Glenn Savoie, Waukesha Alderman and prostitute solicitor, continues to gather controversy as more horrible details of his life are revealed.

The Waukesha Freeman and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel both are reporting that on one of the occasions Savoie was busted for soliciting a prostitute, the girls in question were 12 and 14.

He's perhaps fortunate that his crime was committed in Milwaukee, as I doubt other jurisdictions would have treated the matter so lightly. Savoie is certainly lucky that the father of one of the girls reacted by calling the police rather than take the law into his own hands. And thank God the girls knew to run to a responsible adult when confronted by this man.

Savoie's story has shifted, too, on the length of time he served in jail, as well as the circumstances surrounding the solicitation arrests. Savoie's reaction to inquiries by the Waukesha Freeman - calling the police claiming harassment - while reminiscent of the former mayor is certainly conduct unbecoming of someone who was seeking a position of the public trust.

The Waukesha Freeman today even went so far as to write an editorial demanding his resignation, or his removal from office by his fellow aldermen.

Citizens in District 6 deserve a better representative than someone who solicited prostitutes and then didn't reveal it when he was seeking office. Savoie should do the honorable thing and resign immediately. If he doesn't resign, he should be removed from office as soon as possible, with whather means it takes.

Talk radio is weighing in as well. Jeff Wagner of WTMJ-AM 620 discussed the matter on Friday. If I were Savoie, I would switch my clock-radio to buzzer to wake me Monday morning, as WISN-AM 1130's Dan Deibert has promised to make the Savoie issue his pet cause. I suspect Charlie Sykes, Jay Weber, Jeff Wagner, Mark Belling and Jessica McBride will be in full attack mode Monday as well. Heck, even the talkers at WMCS might take the opportunity to poke fun of the suburbs.

Last, but certainly not least in this story, are the Wisconsin Bloggers. The story began when Mike at Spring City Chronicle did a background check on the new alderman. Mike has since followed up his newsbreaking post with more commentary, updates, and observations. Now Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative is also asking how long Savoie will last.

Which leaves out city government as the only ones who have not made a public statement so far asking Savoie to resign. One alderman, Rick Tortomasi (phone (262) 544-5373, e-mail mailto:rickt@huscintol.com, did e-mail Savoie that he would help him adjust to his new job duties, and that he was not put on this Earth to judge Savoie.

Tortomasi may not have been put on Earth by God to judge Savoie, but he and his fellow aldermen were elected by the voters to do just that. The Common Council judged wrong when they made Savoie a member, and they need to rectify that error.

Some will argue that Savoie paid his debt to society at the time of his convictions and subsequent incarcerations. But his continued lies to the public, his failure prior to his selection as alderman to inform the Common Council of these convictions, to actually call the police when a reporter called investigating the convictions, the nature of the crimes (the girls were 12 and 14), his shifting stories concerning the circumstances of the crimes and his incarceration, and his evident belief in the lack of the seriousness of the crimes he committed render him unfit for public office.

If all of this attention on Savoie does any good, it will be the ostracizing of Savoie from civil society of which he is apparently unfit to be a member, judging not only from his past but his current actions.

Happy Mother's Day

(note: the more things change, the more they stay the same)

Mother's Day this year unfortunately is like many of the holidays of my adult years. Someone is working, too much is going on, and the day gets neglected far more than it should.

This year my wife is working, and the person going out to brunch with the kids is me. I'm taking my son and daughter to brunch to see their grandma and grandpa Wigderson, and my brother and his wife.

My son is just now beginning to understand family holidays and family gatherings. My daughter will be happy just to see smiling faces and to eat something different for breakfast. She'll get to show off her new phrases, "Hi," "Whachadoing?" "Why?" and "Yes!"

The restaurant will be too crowded and possibly too loud for normal conversations. But the Wigdersons have never been known for small talk. Dad will tell a story often heard before. He and my brother will talk about work. My brother's wife and I will gossip about local politicians (look for something juicy in this blog monday). Mom will get presents. And then we'll all go home for a nice, long nap.

My wife will finally come home around 5:00pm. The house (despite my best efforts) will still look like chaos, dinner will be 50-50 at best, the Sopranos won't be on TV until 8:00pm, so my wife will probably go take a nap after reading the cards I bought for her.

It isn't fair to her, and we'll both say something about "someday" we'll have a nice holiday with just the two of us again. We'll take a moment today and remember that little apartment we temporarily shared just off 27th and Howard in Milwaukee. How she laughed hysterically when the Car-X air compressor released, scaring the heck outta me. Or the romantic evenings curled up in bed listening to the drunks at 2:00am pull into Taco Bell to place an order. My wife still does a great impression of the sound of the Taco Bell employee speaking through the speaker system that was aimed directly at our window.

In many ways, we're still that same couple, only now we have dogs, kids, a mortgage and so on... and we'll note that Mother's Days are rarely rest for the mom.

Didn't I see this in Trading Places?

It's a miracle! She can walk! She can run! She can occupy a jail cell that isn't handicap equipped!

I guess whatever happens in Las Vegas, stays in a Las Vegas cell.

I'm not a big believer in special enhancements for punishing crime, but pretending to be wheelchair-bound just so she can sue communities is pretty low.

Can I have her handicap parking sticker?

(Headline corrected to the movie title. I confess I'm in love with Genevieve Gorder, formerly of Trading Spaces, and I must've had her on my mind. That, or this room needs to be painted.)

Jogging will kill you

The Associated Press reports they have found the alligator that may have eaten a woman jogger. I've always believed that jogging was unsafe.

In case an alligator attacks me, I'll just offer the giant lizard some of my double Big Mac and some french fries and an apple pie dessert. According to the Surgeon General, the alligator will be dead within minutes from coronary disease.

By the way, the alligator is a protected species.

Taxpayer education

So far, no angry mobs of teachers have egged my house, yet. But this week's column, "More schooling needed on district budget cuts", focuses on some of the excuses and finances and hard decisions and run-on sentences of the Waukesha School District. Oh wait, I have the run-on sentences. They're making the "drastic cuts."

I have a question that I didn't ask in my column. If the budget situation has been as dire as the school district has made them out to be, where did they find the money last year to hire the "first year" teachers they are laying off this year?

Can you spare a cup of water?

Jim Rowen raises an interesting question about where is the water going to come from for the new development in Delafield? But more interesting to me, what's a sophisticated urbanite like Jim Rowen doing worrying about a development project in suburbia?

I guess when they want our money for stupid projects in Milwaukee, it's "Shut up and give us the cash." But when we develop an empty field, here come the city folk with their unwanted advice.

Don't you have a sewer problem to fix, city boy?

Breaking news in the Spring City

Mike at the Spring City Chronicle asked the question first. Is Waukesha's newest alderman the same Glenn Savoie that once solicited a minor for prostitution? The Waukesha Freeman confirms that it is, and Savoie's new colleagues aren't happy.

Twelve years ago was a long time ago, but the article makes clear that Savoie knew the information would come out. He should've told the Common Council when he submitted his application. After all, they had the right to consider his prostitution busts before they voted on him. Whether or not they chose to use it as a factor in their decision was up to them and their constituents, not to Savoie.

While I don't know if Savoie's soliciting prostitutes twelve years ago constitutes suitable grounds for his resignation, his refusal to make such information public prior to his consideration by the common council would strongly suggest he is not trustworthy enough to hold public office. He should resign promptly.

As for the City of Waukesha Common Council, they may want to take a look at how they screen candidates to fill vacancies a little better.

Update! Savoie told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he will not resign. Mike at Spring City Chronicle gets more props for his research:

Word of Savoie's past spread around Waukesha City Hall on Thursday after a local blogger publishing the Spring City Chronicle (springcitychronicle.wordpress.com/) online noted that a man by the same name as the new alderman had once been charged with soliciting a child for prostitution. The blogger, identifying himself only as "Mike," wrote: "I do not know for certain whether this person is the same person selected as alderman, nor do I know whether this person was actually convicted of the crime with which he was charged."

Jeff Wagner of WTMJ-AM 620 is talking about the issue right now.