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The Zach is back tomorrow. My opinion is that you’d better get used to watching things like bicycle races and soccer games because Obama’s vision of Amerika looks a lot like France. Seriously, it’s a great thing for a Sunday because downtown’s usually a dead zone.
- John Schoenknecht completes his series on the Jiffy Jell business and building.
- Owen Robinson says that the lack of success the World Health Organization (WHO) has had in poor countries should serve as a warning for those who support a government-run health care system. I don’t think anyone is proposing that the UN or WHO come in and run our health care system, so I don’t know if this should be our primary reason for opposing ObamaCare. I am probably missing the connection in his column because I’m old and feeble. I guess I can think of better reasons for not supporting Obama’s big government health care plan.
- Sure seems kind of early to endorse a candidate for the 2010 governor race here in Wisconsin even if I agree with her but Ms. McBride endorses Milwaukee County Chairman Scott Walker. Since I live in this area, it seems obvious to me that he would do the best job, but our perception is skewed. People who live 50 miles or more from Milwaukee County may feel that Mark Neumann would be the better candidate because of his experience in Congress. I worry about Walker’s name recognition outside of southeast Wisconsin.
- Curt Otto has some pictures of the River Fox.
- Pete Kennedy does a very Chronicle-type column. Maybe I can sell him the rights.
- Saturday Sound Off.
- Assemblyman Bill Kramer e-mailed his newsletter. If you didn’t get it, here it is:
Let me try that again:
| June 26, 2009 | |
| Representative Kramer’s Capitol CorrespondenceBiennial State Budget UpdateFor several months, I’ve been expressing my dissatisfaction and concern with the proposed 2009-2011 biennial state budget — both as a matter of process and a matter of policy. Legislative Democrats have proposed policies that are disheartening — they’ve proposed tax increases on gasoline, your phone, digital downloads (music and software), hospitals, small businesses, investors, and even on healthcare benefits and child care. Every credible economist has discouraged raising taxes during such a deep recession, but their admonishments go unheeded. On the whole, these are job-killing tax increases as Waukesha and Wisconsin struggle with near-record unemployment.
Indeed, there is little economic activity in the state that won’t be subject to a new or increased tax. My single-greatest frustration is the rhetoric coming from too many politicians — Republicans and Democrats alike — that prioritizes the needs of state government over the needs of our working families and local businesses. When we should be asking what businesses need (and how government can best facilitate that) to thrive in the current and future economy, instead the climate in Madison has singularly focused on how can business serve the needs of state government. All told, the state’s budget will increase from about $57 billion to $63 billion. That is a more than six percent increase in total spending, certainly not the “cut” that this budget’s apologists are claiming. It even has a $2.3 billion built-in structural deficit that will exacerbate the problems facing the next budget. It is a dissipation of one-time use of federal monies and borrowing. Just last week, the State Assembly passed a version of the budget that is loaded up with more than $37 million in pork for electorally vulnerable politicians and well-connected special-interests. When the Governor’s ink dries on the budget, taxes in Wisconsin will have gone up by almost $5 billion since February. Even President Obama’s chief economic advisor, Christina Romer, has provided research that discourages raising taxes during a recession and its subsequent recovery. Prevention and Solutions Much of the current challenges facing Wisconsin state government and its budget deficit are years in the making and are a bipartisan failure to maturely prioritize spending. A decade of Republican and Democratic irresponsible budgeting such as infusions of one-time monies and borrowing for current operational expenses have pushed state budgeting and government to the brink. Recognizing that problem, I, along with several colleagues, introduced a package of legislation that will help in bringing about the necessary reforms needed to put Wisconsin government on a track toward fiscal responsibility.
If enacted as a full, comprehensive package, these measures could have prevented — or, at the very least, alerted us to — the severe budget deficit that now is being “controlled” by nearly $5 billion in tax increases that will further squeeze the middle class and our job creators. |
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| State Representative Bill Kramer State Capitol – Room 18 West – Post Office Box 8952 – Madison, Wisconsin 53708 Phone: (608) 266-8580 Email: Rep.Kramer@legis.wisconsin.gov On the Internet: Representative Kramer’s Web Site |
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- To close, a brilliant political cartoon:
Summer Solstice Sunset in Fairbanks, AK
Today is the last full day of Spring 2009. Again, an unmemorable Spring weather-wise. Summer arrives at 46 minutes after midnight tonight. The Summer Solstice is celebrated in many places. But if you’ve been reading here, you know it depresses me. Yes, I know the warmest weather is yet to come. Summer nights with fireflies and fireworks and Summer days with young women in ephemeral summer dresses, yes, there’s a lot to like. But it’s always overshadowed to me by the fact that the days are getting shorter and we’re slipping, however gloriously, towards another dark and gloomy 9 months of Winter. My opinion: I need to move to Costa Rica.
- Wow, the B-17 at Crites Field is fully equipped.
- The Freeman reporter tells us what it was like first-hand.
- PJ O’Rourke made the quintessential comment on government-run health care when Hillary Clinton was trying to sell it, “If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free.”
- Owen Robinson explains.
- Steve Bukosky at Common Ground appears to be arguing that beer and liquor sales should stop at 9:00 p.m. everywhere, including restaurants and bars.
- Brien Lee celebrates the third anniversary of Takin’ the Blog for a Walk.
- Curt Otto muses on the joys of downtown living.
- Jessica issues a statement on the affair. I have to admit while reading the original story in the J-S, my main thought was, “There’s an Irish pub on Water Street?” I remember McGillicuddy’s because it was owned by a former Carroll student, but this place must be somewhere else. This can’t be right. The Google street view looks like a pretty crappy north side neighborhood. I was thinking it reminded me of the Cheetah Club, a strip joint we went to back in the 70’s which was in an iffy neighborhood back then. God, that place is still open?
- Anyway, then Mrs. Bucher tells us what else the state budget lacks.
- In sports, the Brewers will get swept in Detroit, I guarantee it. Say hello to third place boys.
- And Chronicle Lifetime Bonehead Award winner Ryan Leaf is the subject of a column.
- Congressman Sensenbrenner sure writes a lot more guest editorials than he used to.
- I could hear the B-17 taking off just now. Think how loud a whole wing of bombers must have been.
- Pete Kennedy complains about drivers today. Pete, you just crossed into being an old man. Congratulations. Soon you’ll be writing about those dam’ kids on your lawn.
- Saturday Sound Off.
- See, I told you you wouldn’t notice any difference.
Well, that was a noisy old storm last night, but I’m not complaining. That means that there is warm air around, something we have been woefully lacking here in the post-industrial Rust Belt. I want to keep this short because I’ve got a doctor’s appointment this morning plus I spent 100 minutes in the dentist chair yesterday and my jaw’s still a little achy.
- Wigderson’s closing the Pub, but reopening a new website in September. You’ll want to stop by here tomorrow morning because I’ll let you know my plans. The times, they are changin’.
- Well now, Jessica pretty much messed up, didn’t she? She’s put a pretty big dent in her marriage, no doubt. It will take some heavy spinning to get Paul Bucher’s political career, if there is one, back in gear. How do you go back to teaching journalism if you’ve thrown your ethics book out the window? You obviously can’t go back to journalism as a career. It’s hard to be a conservative talker or writer if you have this on your resumé. It certainly puts a new light on her last column for the Freeman, “Not All Government Jobs Are Waste”.
- Look, these things happen. Everybody’s tempted. Presidents, movie stars, police chiefs, mothers, bloggers have all strayed before and will stray again. My advice: Sincerely apologize to anything that breathes, vow to never do it again, feel guilty and move on.
- There will be charges filed in Waukesha’s murder case today. I guess I should feel fortunate I live in a place where we’ve only had one murder and it’s mid-June, huh?
- Speaking of cops, as I’ve told you before, we have some good ones here.
- In business news, Sprizzo is benefitting from its move and there’s a new bakery on the increasingly Hispanic south side of Waukesha.
- Friday Sound Off.
- He’s 61, she’s 39, so if I’m 57, there’s a 35 year old who might … never mind.
My opinion: I’m calling bull___ on Wisconsin Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson. A $6,600,000,000.00 budget deficit in Wisconsin is not George W. Bush’s fault and no sentient being in this or any other universe would believe you when you say something stupid like that.
- The budget passed the Assembly just after 5:00 a.m. this morning. The votes were all along party lines with one occasional Democratic defector, Bob Ziegelbauer of Manitowoc. When the Dems try to tell you (just like Diamond Jim Doyle does here) that Republicans didn’t offer any alternatives, just read them the WisPolitics Budget Blog. Democrats expect you to be stupid.
- Wigderson brings us Bill Kramer’s thoughts on the state budget.
- Darryl E says that 60 realtors will get a whirlwind tour of available properties downtown to showcase its potential.
- Just in time, Diane McGeen must be saying.
- Curt Otto’s been losing some sleep. If only the owner of the property in question had taken the money from Walgreen’s.
- Skeptics Anonymous wants to see a clutch hit from the Brewers. Last night, again with the striking out with the bases loaded. Not every pitcher who faces the Brewers is bloody Cy Frakking Young.
- But they won and everyone else in the Central lost, so what am I complaining about? Because I’m a baseball fan, I love to complain. It’s my best thing.
- If Mayor Larry had a real blog, this post by Moon’s End might be what he’d write.
- Steve Bukosky wants tougher drunk driving laws regardless of cost.
- Owen Robinson on the state budget.
- Jessica McBride sticks up for government workers. Actually, she is one, isn’t she?
- In a proper economy, that is, not one run by Democrats, government does the jobs which private industry doesn’t want to do.
- Pete Kennedy talks about senior pranks.
- Wisconsin state senator Mary Lazich talks about supporting one of those feel-good amendments which accomplishes zero. In fact, it limits rights of free speech and expression, however distasteful that speech or expression may be to us. Maybe that’s why she’s considered a bad legislator.
- Saturday Sound Off is always a good discussion starter.
My opinion is that the voters in Wisconsin who put Democrats in charge are getting exactly the government, and the taxes, they deserve. When that dope-dealing, drunk driving, illegal alien runs into your car and puts you in the hospital, you’ll have the Democrats to thank. Oh, by the way, he was on the road because a Madison functionary decreed that he was a non-violent felon and released him from prison and gave him a driver’s license. He didn’t have insurance because the state said he didn’t have to have insurance and he couldn’t afford it anyway.
Meanwhile, the gas in your car was more expensive because the state couldn’t legally prohibit the oil companies from passing on their tax increase to you, your auto insurance is twice as high as it was because of the Democrats, your health insurance is twice as high as it was because of the mandated coverages the Democrats added and your hospital stay will be more expensive because the Democrats added a hospital tax.
When you talk to the police about arresting the driver you find that the police didn’t want to stop him because they would have to report they they stopped a minority and it would be above their monthly quota.
- Jessica McBride talks about the racial profiling provision.
- Pete Kennedy talks about the new Target and about the job situation in 1981. That same recession which made jobs hard to come by encouraged me to follow my parents’ advice and work for the people who print the money. Here I am 30 years later retired at 57. Thank you, recession.
- Diane McGeen has a real estate professional’s opinion of the recent city-wide reassessments.
- Wigderson sees a bias in a Channel 12 report.
- Mayor Larry got an article published in the magazine “US Mayor”. I’m wondering, did it begin, “I never thought it would happen to me”?
- Saturday Sound Off.
My opinion is that it always rains on Memorial Day weekend. My other opinion is that Manny Parra always looks like he’s on the verge of a crying jag. That’s not what I want to see from my pitcher.
- Gosh, the Freeman columnists are going left-wing on us. Pete Kennedy believes that Pewaukee’s proposed plan to fine illegal immigrants has the scent of racism about it.
- My opinion is that allowing someone to get out of breaking the law of the land by claiming racism means that we are no longer offering “Equal Protection Under the Law”. Instead, we have laws which only apply to one color skin and not another.
- And talk about scents, I had a dream last night in which I was walking through a New York City pool hall and there were a lot of foul-smelling pool players. Damn cat.
- Jessica McBride is not opposed to gay marriage.
- My opinion is that you can kiss the Social Security system as you know it good-bye if you legalize gay marriage. You’re installing a whole new population of widows/widowers and spouses to draw on the system.
- My other opinion is that the Democrats” end run to create “domestic partnerships” is unconstitutional.
- Mark Belling addressed a reader’s e-mail about a recent bad experience at Waukesha Memorial Hospital’s emergency room on his show yesterday. Mark has some strong opinions about ProHealth Care. It was the first topic in this segment of the show: Belling Show 5/22/09.
- Owen Robinson agrees with my opinion that the attempted recall of Diamond Jim Doyle is a bad idea.
- In the Waukesha Blog-o-sphere, it’s another week with no posts from anyone except the new kid and Wigderson, and James reports that he will not be posting from June 18th until some time in August.
- Ironically, I already have a special post about blogging written for June 20th, so stay tuned.
- Saturday Sound Off.
Now Diamond Jim wants to raise the price of meat. Remember that the Democrats who brought you the smoking ban also nod in agreement when a PETA representative is speaking.
- When I was a union steward for the gubmint, I spent many hours in discussions with management over parking privileges in the downtown parking ramp. I am glad to read that it is falling down. I win.
- Me, I use a minuscule amount of water compared to the rest of you. I should get a rebate each month in the new rate system.
- Summit Avenue will be undergoing lane closures to install a water main until June.
- I lived in La Crosse for the better part of 10 years and never went to Onalaska Sunfish Days. How is that possible?
- The Cardinals are still my second favorite team (because they were my Dad’s favorite team growing up) but they are obsessed with the Brewers’ post-game shirt thing. Here’s their fan forum on the issue.
- No more do we have to hear that pro-life views are a minority opinion.
- An article on the milk strikes of the 1930’s in Waukesha, which was known as “Cow County USA” in those days. My dad was from rural Illinois and he always said that he never saw cows walking in the streets until he came here.
- Wigderson has a long comment about the President’s speech at Notre Dame.
- Which brings me to a comment about Waukesha bloggers. I have 13 Waukesha blogs I track in my Google Reader (I’m weaning myself from Feedreader because it is a memory hog). Wigderson’s the only one who has written anything since May 7th. I’ve noticed a drop in volume from many Wisconsin bloggers lately. It may be the weather improving but I’m think that the truth is that blogging has passed its zenith. I’ll have more to say about this next month.
- A map of crime in Waukesha from the last week.
- On the animal front, I’m having trouble keeping Watson from tormenting a new crop of bunnies in the yard. Whenever I hear the sound of a squeaky toy being squeezed, I know its time to gather the cat and bring him inside. The bunnies I’ve seen have not suffered visible injury. Watson kills mice and ground squirrels if he can catch them so I suppose its only a matter of time until he bags a wabbit. I just don’t want to listen to it.
- A robin found my newly (and very well-) painted garage so inviting she decided to start a family on the lights. See her tail up there?
Fortunately for her, my well-painted garage needs some updated electrical work before the lights will actually work.
I note that the Waukesha Choral Union is in concert tonight at St. William’s Church. The acoustics there should be quite flattering to an orchestra and chorus. Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, what’s not to like?
Don’t let that nasty old Mr. Flu scare keep you indoors. What you need is fresh air and plenty of it. Flu bugs hate sunshine and fresh air.
- My opinion: You may have heard about the deal that Democrats came up with on regional transit. Charlie Sykes was talking about it yesterday. I find the most chilling part of the deal was the part that says that 15% of the Milwaukee County transit tax goes to the City of Milwaukee with no strings attached. The city can spend it on whatever fool thing they want to spend it on. Why is that disturbing to someone who never plans to go east of 124th Street? Because if state law makers can make such a rule for Milwaukee County, they can use the same rule if they bring Waukesha County into their little RTA. How would you in Waukesha feel about 15% of the proceeds of an increased sales tax going to the City of Milwaukee? The Waukesha County Board should have signalled their opposition to the RTA when they had the chance.
- If you’re in West Bend, Owen Robinson is packing heat and he don’t care. Thing is, you remember all those westerns where they had the cowboys leave their guns on the hitching post because they weren’t allowed to wear them in town? Why do you suppose they had rules like that? Everybody had the right to carry arms back then. Everybody knew how to use firearms. Everybody knew that everybody knew and yet they had rules that said you couldn’t carry them in public. Why do you suppose that was?
- Laurel Walker says that a Madison group, Clean Wisconsin, is a group she’s “glad to have around”. But, she says, that Clean Wisconsin is barking up the wrong tree challenging the Waukesha Water Utility.
- Jessica McBride praises the New Berlin School Superintendent.
- Pete Kennedy finds out something I’ve noticed, medical professionals won’t tell you how much a procedure costs, only what you’ll pay. Here I thought it was because they didn’t know.
- In the Waukesha blog-o-sphere, A Little Off Main has closed up shop. His final message: “I’m out. Thanks for reading. Sorry Steve, that’s a wrap for Blog n Grog as well.” Fare thee well, Alexander.
- Five Points Blog reminds us that the Farmer’s Market begins next weekend.
- Wigderson reminds us that this is no longer “Swine Flu”. Other flu is named after its country of origin like “Spanish Flu” or “Hong Kong Flu”. Why is Mexico catching a break?
- Jay Walt at Wake Up Waukesha asks you to have cancer screening.
- Skeptics Anonymous went to the Black Trumpet and was whelmed.
- You’ll notice some changes in the blog roll as some inactive blogs have been removed. Blogging is harder than it looks.
- Here’s the Freeman’s article on Pete Schuler’s press conference yesterday, by the way.
- Saturday Sound Off
Yesterday, I planted 23,000 wildflower seeds in a 40 sq.ft. garden. At least according to the package. It’s supposed to be enough to plant a 50-75 sq ft. garden, again, according to the package. They are supposed to be made up of low-growing flowers, according to the package, and I’m hoping for a colorful display from June through October. We’ll see. The weather over the past couple of days has lent itself to lighting the gardening spark in me. Today, I need some shredded bark and I’m on the hunt for landscape timbers. Spring has come to the northern post-industrial rust belt.
- Pete Kennedy is annoyed about the fake parking signs businesses put up, like the “Women with Children Parking” at the Pick N Save. Like the Pirate Code, they are more like guidelines.
- Jessica McBride talks about the lessons of Wednesday’s Tea Party.
- Sound Off has opinions on that and on Ann Coulter’s column. Personally, I can be a little off the wall at times for me. At those times, I don’t read her column. Why would you willingly read something that’s going to upset you?
- James Wigderson wonders about the recall of Diamond Jim Doyle.
- Curt Otto writes a poem about the dumpster which I’m guessing is behind the never-quite-finished Bodway’s.
- Brien Lee has some nice pictures of Easter Sunday.
- Steve Bukosky has some thoughts for the incoming CEO of Harley.
- And finally, the header was swiped from the Asian Badger and this was swiped from ol’ Broad:
I like not working. They should have one of these “week ends” every week.
- Jessica Mc Bride says that “undocumented alien” is a mythological Liberal construct which should be discarded, like the idea of the “Noble Savage”. She says if these “illegal aliens” would have been deported when they were first discovered or had been stopped at the border in the first place, three Americans would probably still be alive this fine, sunny Saturday morning.
- Pete Kennedy likes the idea of granting credit for extracurricular athletics. I think high school gym class is a rite of passage which all must endure in order to become a complete human being. You’re telling me that a member of the high school golf team doesn’t have to get pushed in the pool or run laps with the “little people”? Frack that.
- Steve Edlund writes a letter to the editor about two races which haven’t be discussed much: the 1st Aldermanic District and the Waukesha School Board.
- Laurel Walker likes the Widow’s Bone. From that, we’ve learned all we need to about Mrs. Walker’s taste in art.
- In this week’s Waukesha Blog-o-sphere, Bryon Houlgrave has been posting some of his favorite pictures. His picture of a man digging a trench, is a dead ringer (in my opinion) for Duane Hanson’s “Janitor” on display at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
- Dean at Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative came out of retirement long enough to make recommendations for the upcoming Spring elections.
- Wigderson has the latest offering from General Motors since President Obama guaranteed the warranty with your money.
- Everybody’s favorite: Saturday Sound Off.
My opinion is that 3-8″ of snow is an unpleasant forecast for the end of March, though certainly not unprecedented, nor even unexpected. After all, many of us remember an Opening Day or two delayed or postponed by a snow storm and none of us will forget the May snow storm, which destroyed so many trees. The question is, shovel or not? If it was April, certainly not. But it’s still March. It will melt by the end of the week but it will probably take more than 24 hours to melt, therefore it would violate the shoveling ordinance if we don’t shovel. But I’ve already moved the shovels into a corner and the bag o’ salt-like chemical away from the front of the porch, so, in my mind, it should stop snowing. A late-season quandary for the home owner in the post-industrial rust belt of the Midwest.
- Pete Kennedy compares and contrasts the new Goodwill store to the All-Summer rummage sale proposal.
- The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel restaurant reviewer did the Black Trumpet Restaurant on the Five Points and liked the food, but believes there are still details to be worked out. (Hat tip to the Five Points Blog)
- Steve Bukosky at Common Ground asks how you will use Diamond Jim Doyle’s Magical Mystery Train to Madison.
- Jessica McBride defends the continued existence of print newspapers.
- Blogwaukesha gives you a reason to vote for Randy Koschnick.
- A Little Off Main thinks that the Milwaukee Common Council has made yet another mistake.
- Jay at Wake Up! Waukesha is pretty angry about the Mark Benson case.
- The Waukesha State Bank thinks taking the TARP money would have been a bad idea.
- Wigderson has the best line, “Here’s a clue for librarians and library board members. If you can’t discuss the books in front of children, then you shouldn’t be making the books available to children.”
- Owen went to the meeting that Wiggy is talking about.
- Here’s another way you can tell something is inappropriate: If you can’t see it being done in a movie unless you’re over 21, it shouldn’t be in your 14-year old’s book.
- Saturday Sound Off is for Conservatives.
