The Fist

The fist that Wisconsin Public Union members have adopted as their logo is really unfortunate imagery. The right should be doing so much more to minimize them via that idiotic fist.

Random Musing

Tea party and Occupation might have a common enemy but they don't even realize it: corruption of political power. Because they come at it from radically different angles, they just might be irreconcilable because of their own obtuseness, but that might not be all bad. Woe be the power of the man who can deceive both to follow.

Phrase of the Day: Facebook Telephone

Facebook telephone: The process of a story getting messed up not because of word of mouth, but because others might not know the background to the story and thus misinterpret it completely.

A Eulogy to the Heroic

There comes a moment in the lives of very few men and women when they accept, without emotional bias, that events have become larger than any one man, or even one thousand. In those moments comes a grim determination to do what they can to help save others for as long as luck, fate, and their maker allows. This acceptance of reality doth create heroism and bravery.

Seemingly randomly, as events subside, some come to meet their maker, while others are allowed to persist and return to life. Invariably, those who have faced their end will tell all that they are not the hero, rather the heroes are those who faced hopelessness and lost. Yet the living remain heroes, for it takes much heroism to face death and still push forward, but it takes even more to survive and accept the gift of life again.

Disliking the 2012 Tea Leaves

Horrifying thought. For the next 15 months, the Dems repeatedly force the GOP to deliver what the Tea Party wants, knowing full well that the GOP cannot do so minus either the Senate or POTUS. Tea Party disapproval leads to political fratricide, which disrupts a unified front against the left, and which could in turn destroy the Tea Party from within.

Democrats May Have Just Snatched Victory from Defeat

24 hours ago, I thought Republicans had dropped any blame for default squarely in the laps of the Democrats. Democrats are better at playing chicken, though. The "compromise" being discussed tonight is a big pile of chicken poop, but likely necessary to forestall default now that it is out there. But Democrats understood a very important strategic fact. They can afford to piss off their supporters. The GOP cannot afford to piss off the Tea Party.

The Tea Party is full of Washington veterans, but its life blood is the passionate, relative newbies who lean towards Republicans because of shared values, but who expect the GOP to toe their line. They state a willingness to go to war against any Republican who doesn't toe that line. And they didn't get what they wanted in this deal.

This could have a two-fold effect. First, it is going to turn Tea Party rage right of center. Oh, they won't be anymore supportive of Obama, Reid, Pelosi, et al. And they'll still fight hard to unseat Obama. But this will split their rage. There will be some cannibalism towards individuals on the right. And that split focus is precisely what Obama needs. If the Tea Party has a singular, laser-like focus on him in the coming year, he is in trouble. But if they are sniping at the right, too, that's just enough to give him some wiggle room and to sew together a narrative to use against the Republican candidate.

Second, this might end up being the shatter point for the Tea Party. Like the Republican Revolution of the mid-1990's eventually experienced, this is a point where the realists, the idealists, the self interested, and the national interest types all move in different directions and shear the movement apart.

There is still time, and I acknowledge that I could completely misunderstand the Tea Party. But the GOP is going to be hard pressed to pull a better deal from the fire at this point.

Large Teen Fight in the Streets of Fort Atkinson?

I'm starting to see some information filter in about a sizable (50 kids?) fight in the streets of Fort Atkinson tonight between local kids and kids from possibly Watertown. Can't verify much. I am mostly writing this because I challenge the Madison/Milwaukee media to look into this. I know that you both claim Jefferson and Walworth county as your own, but you both do a miserable, miserable job of covering those counties unless someone is dead. And I'm told that, even then, you aren't so good at it.

Choo Choo Barrett

Tom Barrett has been begging for a toy train like a child at Christmas in 1959.

He's finally gotten his wish.

Never mind that this line makes no logistic or financial sense. Tommy wanted a train, and he finally got one. And it took some foot stomping and screaming.

I'm fine with Milwaukee's boondoggles as long as the stay Milwaukee's. I do oppose this line ever seeing a single state dollar. Want it Milwaukee? Fine. You own it. Keep the rest of us out of it.

Uhhh, No.

I am flummoxed by this:

While the neighbor succeeded in scaring off the bear, Conway said the Game Commission does not recommend shooting at bears, especially in heavily populated areas.

Instead of firing a weapon, you should "yell, scream and holler" at the bear, lifting your arms to make yourself appear bigger, Conway said. You can also throw rocks or sticks at the bear if it's not scared off by the screaming, he said.

The bear was interested in a 2 year old holding candy. If a bear approaches my two year old for ANY reason, I'm not firing two shots into the ground first. My first shot will be right between that predator's eyes. And the second. And the third. Until I'm out of bullets or my two year old is safe because that threat is dead.

Have We Created a Culture of Tornado Death?

This year has been unreal for tornado deaths. Up to this point, we've chalked that up to some really terrible outbreaks that have gone through some heavily populated areas. But I think a little perspective is in order. This is the worst year for tornado fatalities since 1950, IIRC. 1950. In 1950, there was no storm prediction center issuing slight, moderate, and high risks of tornadoes. Tornado warnings gave scant prep time, and were often locally prompted by law enforcement, not from a far away radar scanning storm movement. People only had a few TV and radio from which to monitor the situation, and when they could give information, it wasn't good. Yet this is the worst year of fatalities since then.

It is safe to say that fatalities would be bad this year no matter what. But should we really be approaching the fatalities of an age when people literally did not know there was a tornado coming, let alone possible, until it was on their doorsteps? It is somewhat illogical to think that could be the case. So what has changed?

Well, for one, the amateur storm chaser has been glorified for about two decades, since average people started getting access to quality cameras and, more importantly, camcorders. They are always introduced with a disclaimer, but always glorified. But why haven't we seen a steady growth of deaths with the growth of amateur chasers? They are, after all, practically a dime a dozen these days. I am even formerly one of their numbers.

Well, to start with, most amateur storm chasers have just enough knowledge to not be a danger. Most people crazy enough to go out in their car after a storm have just enough knowledge to keep themselves safe. In some cases, they have the angels on their shoulders, and in others, they know enough to understand what a storm is presenting them and they react appropriately. So if it it isn't the storm chasers, what is it?

A few things have come together in recent years to create a "perfect storm," if you will. First, more and more shows on cable are showing tornado chasers who get very close to or right into a tornado. On its own, that's not enough, though, or this would have happened after the movie Twister. But add in the fact that anyone can publish their own video on the net, and now you have opportunity to be famous. Now, add into that the fact that every other person has a video camera on their phone, and you have a problem.

Now, people with very little or no understanding of storms are taking video of storms. The immediate example in my head is the Fort Atkinson woman who was taking video of what she thought was a tornado as her young teenage son implored her to take shelter. That son was precisely right. Even if it was a tornado, it was dark and she had no way of determining what the tornado was doing. She was lucky. Extremely lucky. Others haven't been so lucky. I see more and more video from people that get totally surprised by tornadoes, video of them diving for safety as the winds destroy their surroundings.

Our glorification of storm chasing, combined with the self promotion capabilities of the net, and the high def phone camera in so many pockets today, as created a new class of amateur chasers. Actually chasers is a misnomer because the tornadoes find them. And they have once heard of tornadoes, so they have just enough information to be dangerous - to themselves. There is going to be no way to measure this, but I am confident that a number of this year's fatalities have died because they had that phone camera out at a time that their butts should have been ducking and covering in a safe place.

I want to be clear that I am not disparaging all of this year's fatalities. Many, many people this year have done the right thing but had no chance. But this year should not be the deadliest year since 1950. We have gained too many advantages on tornadoes in that time span. Some minority of victims had to have been doing the wrong thing, and every person caught flat footed videotaping a storm does not live. There is a clear problem here, but we just aren't seeing it yet.

Kloppenburg Defeats Prosser

I love this Photoshop job.

JoAnne Kloppenburg: Jim Doyle and Barack Obama did not find her qualified for the judiciary. Why should you?

Wisconsin's spring election is just days away, and the biggest race on the ticket is between constitutionalist incumbent David Prosser and activist JoAnne Kloppenburg. It is a race that is going down to the wire, even though in normal times, it would not even be close. But the unions seem to have received assurances that Kloppenburg will decide on cases in their favor, and 3rd party groups are running sleazy ads on her behalf, putting the relatively small population of spring undecided voters in play.

While watching this video by Daily Takes, one line, which I am paraphrasing, struck like a lightning bolt: JoAnne Kloppenburg: Jim Doyle and Barack Obama did not find her qualified for the judiciary. Why should you? That absolutely needs to be repeated over and over and over again. It is acknowledged that there is a left vs. right aspect to this race. But if you are a responsible voter, how can you justify voting for someone that even two executives, who should be her supporters, passed over for the judiciary?

So say it often these last remaining days: JoAnne Kloppenburg: Jim Doyle and Barack Obama did not find her qualified for the judiciary. Why should you?

Barbershop Politics, Wisconsin April 5th Election Edition

I love going to the barber and just listening to the political discussion. The discourse is very different from what it is in more wonky places, and it can shed some light on what average voters are thinking and saying. This morning I had the chance to listen in, and while the conversation was a bit limited, here are a couple of things that I learned.

+ The shop had real difficulty remembering JoAnne Kloppenburg's name. But that is not necessarily a good sign for Justice David Prosser because it seems that the sleazy 3rd party tactics on behalf of Kloppenburg are sticking in people's minds. In addition to the union turn out, if these people enter a voting booth, they might be voting "not Prosser."

+ There was a sense that it wasn't Governor Walker's place to end collective bargaining for most things for government employees. At the same time, there was no anger about it, either. I think that's one that only the unions will hold onto tightly until the Governor is eligible for recall.

+ President Obama has been tuned out.

+ The average voter right now has a lot of confused facts, from basic to big. At this stage, I think that plays into the hands of the chaos strategy being played out by the unions.

WI Senate Passes Key Parts of Budget Repair Bill

For the time being, everything is happening so fast that I am primarily writing here.

Maybe Some Fleebaggers Are Signaling for Help?

One of the more baffling trends to emerge from the Illinois 14 the past several days has been the conflicting messages that have been coming out of their camp. At first I thought it was dissension, but then my trusty dog Lassie started to bark at an image on TV of Mark Miller. According to Lassie, certain Senators are in danger and being held against their will and are trying to signal us with their bizarre behavior. Oh yeah, and Timmy Cullen is in the well (joke stolen from a Rock County yard sign).

Reminder: We Are a Republic

For the past several weeks, the "This is What Democracy Looks Like" slogan in Madison protests has been grinding on me. I've ignored it because we do colloquially refer to ourselves as a democracy. We are not, however. We are a Republic with representative government. The Founding Fathers did not trust pure democracy because it was vulnerable to the passions of the people, i.e., mob mentalities. Thus, they placed checks and balances on even democracy with our Republic form of government. So I say, if that is what democracy looks like, then I think maybe the Founders were right after all. And maybe some teachers should brush up on their civics.

WIAA Buying TV Commercials?

I just saw a commercial from the WIAA on WKOW promoting sportsmanship. As a former high school athlete, I'm all for sportsmanship. I don't care where the money comes from, but should the WIAA be buying ANY TV commercials on the subject? Especially at an hour when their student athletes should be sleeping in preparation for a new day of learning? Push it down to the coaches, WIAA. It'll be cheaper and a hell of a lot more effective.

The Right, Jealous?

I am finding it strange that so many protesters in Wisconsin are directing class warfare themes at the right. I can tell you that the right is not driven by class warfare, and I can tell you who absolutely cannot survive without it: Union Bosses. Their entire power and place in society is dependent upon stoking the fires of jealousy and class warfare. If the people they represented actually realized that they don't have it bad at all, they'd be a little more willing to consider life without their mandatory union dues. So rank and file union members, consider this. If I wanted your job, I'd already have it. It didn't take much exploration of the public sector (and I did explore it) for me to realize that I would resent the absence of meritocracy, though. The next time you want to toss your class warfare themes this way, stop a moment to consider the fact that your real bosses in the unions, most of whom make 6 figures, are utterly reliant on you believing those very class warfare themes.

It is 10 pm...

Do you know where your Wisconsin Democrat State Senator son is, Mr. and Mrs. Erpenbach?

Five more Suggestions for Clearing the Capitol

Again, stolen by me from my Twitter Feed:

+ Free Scooby Doo marathon in Lisa Link Peace Park.
+ Klieg lights and greatest speeches of 'The Original Hitler' George W. Bush at 120 Db.
+ Announce that zombie Nixon and Dick Cheney are brain eating their way into the building.
+ Have Jimmy Carter negotiate their right to stay in the capitol.
+ Set up Koch Bros. dunk tank on King St.