Political Heat

A Madison man recently got arrested for mooning his neighbors, allegedly "gyrating" his rear-end towards them from his window. When he was arrested, he told cops his neighbors were lying, that what actually happened was he was having sex in his house. None of this is relevant, except perhaps only to paint a picture of this man's typical behavior, because police ended up finding a sign outside his home with a disturbing message. It read, "Euthanize Welfare Kids." Paul Olson has a history of placing such signs near his property. According to WISC , he's placed similar signage near his home before: Police said he once painted his car with words suggesting that illegal immigrants be deported. Police said he also hung a flag displaying a swastika. In fact, police have been to Olson's home fifteen times this year alone. Besides their obvious offensiveness, Olson's signs present a difficult question: to what extent do our free speech rights protec...

GOP presidential candidate believes Hurricane Irene, earthquake, both the result of God's wrath Republican Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann believes that God played a hand in the recent hurricane and earthquake that hit the eastern seaboard this past week. "I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians," Bachmann told a crowd of supporters recently . "We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?' Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending." Yes folks, God is upset at America because of our finances. He could get past American abuses, overlooking slavery and racism, prejudice and suppression of speech rights, even wars that have been waged and have killed thousands of people. None of that matters because, as Michele B...

Participation in parade should be contingent on support of workers' rights Parades can be a joyous occasion, significant to the day that they are meant to represent. For example, Memorial Day parades remind us of the significant sacrifices that previous veterans gave to us defending our country; Independence Day parades remind us of our national historical lineage. So it stands to reason that any Labor Day parade should symbolize workers from the past who fought for reforms that made working conditions more hospitable for people today, reforms that many take for granted -- things like the eight-hour workday, the two-day weekend, and child labor laws. With that in mind, the Marathon County Central Labor Council, which sponsors the Labor Day parade in Wausau, has determined that no elected official that is Republican should be involved in their festivities : Council President Randy Radtke said they choose not to invite elected officials who have "openly attacked workers...

But dismissal of criminal complaint doesn't justify his psychological abuse This week Special Prosecutor Patricia Barrett determined that no charges would be filed against Justice David Prosser with regards to the incident involving alleged violence against fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. The incident in question occurred just before the State Supreme Court was set to release its ruling on the controversial budget repair bill, in which the majority opinion held that the State Senate acted accordingly when it violated open meeting laws. Accounts of what exactly went down vary, but what is known is that Prosser put his hands on Bradley's neck, enough to "feel the warmth" of it (his own words) but did not squeeze or cause any physical harm to her. However, with Prosser's history of losing control -- he once called Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson a "bitch" and vowed to destroy Abrahamson -- it's clear that psychological harm has been done. ...

Proposal to amend State Constitution unwarranted Following the tumultuous recall election season Wisconsin just experienced, it's understandable that many citizens may be ready for a break from the need for more challenges -- at least until the governor's time comes. But Republican legislators want to do more than take a break: they want to restrict the conditions under which recalls can be initiated . Republicans are busy crafting legislation to amend the State Constitution to limit recall elections solely to instances of misconduct on the part of the official in question. In other words, lawmakers wouldn't need to fear a recall based upon their political decision-making or policies. The move would definitely make recall elections more difficult to initiate -- but for a process that's already rarer than a constitutional amendment itself, do we really need to make it tougher to recall elected officials? Consider the rationale behind each side. Why make recalls ...

Should the process to recall political leaders be more restrictive? The answer is no. Find out why, tonight on Political Heat.

Debate on payroll taxes set to center around hikes for the middle class and poor Having nearly collapsed our economy due to their stubborn, unwavering defiance towards raising taxes, it's pretty clear to most people that the Republican Party is opposed to new ways of raising revenue for our nation. Tax hikes aren't an option, it seems, for the party that wants to cut as many social services as possible. So it's surprising, then, to see the GOP now advocating raising taxes. President Barack Obama is fighting for a renewal of the tax cut to payroll taxes , which was put in place late December of last year in the bargain with Republicans that helped keep the Bush-era tax cuts in place. Payroll taxes, unlike income taxes, largely affect lower-income wage earners. Republicans are hoping that the previous tax rates for Social Security will go into place next year, a move that would technically be a rise in taxes. The tax cut is set to expire January 1 if no action is taken....

Rick Perry claims schools in Texas teach both evolution and creationism Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry recently told a boy in New Hampshire about his views on evolution and creationism . "Evolution is a theory that's out there," Perry says crouching down and staring into the eyes of an elementary-school-age child, who stands with his mother's hands on his shoulders. "It's got some gaps in it," Perry continues, "but in Texas we teach both creationism and evolution..." Science requires us to reject as fact things that cannot be falsified -- that is, that have no way of being definitively proven true OR false. We are free to believe these things as individuals, but a belief in supernatural forces serves no scientific purpose if it cannot be proven one way or another. How do you provide proof of an invisible being, much less justify teaching it as fact in a school setting? Conversely, ideas known as theories in science ...

Ex-senator's departure means more opportunities for other Dems Earlier today, former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold announced via email to his supporters that he wouldn't seek any elected office next year , neither for Senator again (to replace retiring Sen. Herb Kohl) or in the case of a recall against Gov. Scott Walker. After 28 continuous years as an elected official, however, I have found the past eight months to be an opportunity to look at things from a different perspective. The absence of Feingold is a huge setback, as he was polling better than any other Democratic candidate seen as viable in either race. But his stepping aside also opens up doors for other potential Democratic candidates. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin hasn't been shy about her wanting to enter the race, making it very clear that if Feingold were to step out she'd be stepping in. As far as the race against Gov. Walker goes, if it happens, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has made it clear that he'd b...

Won't run for senator, governor Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold has decided not to seek office in 2012 , either to replace fellow Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl who is retiring or in a recall contest against Gov. Scott Walker: In an email that supporters will receive when Friday morning, Feingold writes: "I have decided not to run for public office during 2012." "This was a difficult decision, as I thoroughly enjoyed my tenure in both the State Senate and the U.S. Senate, and I know that progressives are eager to reverse some of the outrageous policies being pursued by corporate interests at both the state and federal levels. I am also well aware that I have a very strong standing in the polls should I choose to run again for the U.S. Senate or in a recall election for governor," the former three-term senator who was defeated in the "Republican wave" election but then quickly rebounded to become a popular prospect for the marquee races of next year: as t...

Market fluctuations in August to blame for jobs lost in July After the June jobs report for Wisconsin came out last month, Gov. Walker was quick to point out the improvements to the state, citing it as evidence that Wisconsin was on the fast track to gaining the 250,000 jobs he promised during his campaign. That goal, by the way, would eliminate unemployment completely, to 0.0 percent. The state GOP also made the (false) claim that the number of jobs created in Wisconsin numbered half of the jobs created in the entire United States. The net number of jobs created across the country in June numbered more than 18,000. Wisconsin had a net increase of 9,500, but other states also had net increases that made the party's claim a foolish one to make (it didn't take into account the gross number of jobs created, without the number of lost jobs subtracted). But even with an increase in jobs, the unemployment rate still went up...which meant more people were trying to get jobs in...

Wisconsin voters reject overreach of Walker administration A quick thought occurred to me last night as I watched the recall returns come in (both Jim Holperin and Bob Wirch, Democrats, fended off recall challenges ). After Democrats picked up two state senate seats last week, conservative commentators across the state declared it as a "loss," a rejection from voters overall of the opposition to Gov. Walker's agenda, all because they failed to pick up the required third win in order to take back the legislative body. The "loss" left the chamber in a 17-16 split, with the Republicans still in control. With Wirch and Holperin both winning last night, those numbers are secured, at least for now, within the State Senate. However, it's hard to understand how a "loss" of two pickups can be seen as a "win" for Republicans -- especially when it makes a moderate senator the most powerful man in the Senate . But what about the losses for Repu...

Obama's vacation roughly one-third of Bush's at this time in his presidency President Barack Obama is getting a lot of heat from some Republicans regarding his plans to meet up with his family in Martha's Vineyard for ten whole days. Following the economy in peril ( due mostly to Republican stubbornness ), the president took a three-day tour across the Midwest, after which he will go to his much-needed vacation. But some in the GOP are not too thrilled about this time off : “Don't go,” veteran Republican media strategist Mike Murphy emailed Thursday when I asked about Obama’s plan to vacation on the elite Massachusetts resort island from August 18 through August 27. “It’s not a good time to start acting like the rich guys he wants to raise taxes on.” ... “I’m a strong believer in the president getting away from the White House and doing whatever he can for his mental state to run the country,” [Joe Scarborough] the host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe told me. “That’s ...

Revisiting the notion that is re-shaping the political landscape of our nation Are corporations people? Mitt Romney recently argued that they were on a campaign stop. The Supreme Court also ruled, in its Citizens United decision, that corporations were people, too. The argument certainly can be made that corporations are people based upon the fact that they are made up of many individuals with a similar goal in mind: profit for their corporation. Yet, if you asked the average person, it's clear that there are reasonable distinctions between people and corporations. Corporations, for example, don't bleed, don't breathe, and don't eat; however, that's taking the argument to a simplistic level, one that's warranted for sure but still worth looking into the subject at greater depth. People and corporations each face different pressures, different challenges when it comes to survival. Both can, in theory, "die;" but while we're well aware of how ...

GOP frontrunner's history as governor clues us in to the type of leader he may be Here are some thoughts on presidential contender Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor is the current front-runner for the nomination from the GOP, and as such the most likely to face Obama in the general election next year. The following points are meant to diffuse any positive points Romney has made for himself while serving as governor. Much more has been said about Romney, but what follows is just a general synopsis of his ability to lead -- or rather, his ability to have done very little at all, except benefit from dumb luck, while he was governor. --- During Romney’s tenure as governor, Massachusetts ranked third-lowest in job creation. Manufacturing jobs were a big loss for the state, declining by 14 percent between 2002 and 2006, more than double the national average. Unemployment went down in Massachusetts, but experts believe this was largely because so many people left the...

Embattled justice plans to sit on case involving law firm he paid $75,000 to for recount The recount for the State Supreme Court election earlier this year produced more than just a narrow win for incumbent Justice David Prosser -- it also produced hundreds of thousands of dollars in fundraising for the sitting justice. Prosser, who raised more than $272,000 during this time beyond the actual election , saw most of it coming from out-of-state interests, "including three $50,000 donations and two $25,000 donations." Assistant Attorney General Kloppenburg, who opposed Prosser in the election, also raised vast sums of money, the largest of which was $10,000 from her mother-in-law; all other donations were under $2,500. Prosser's donations are more concerning for two reasons: first, he ended up winning, so the effect of his donations means more than they do for Kloppenburg, who will not be serving on the Court. Second, his donations could mean a potential conflict of i...

Numbers show gain in unemployment higher during Bush years than Obama Many critics have come out against President Obama for his failure to address the loss of jobs. Their criticism is warranted, but oftentimes goes beyond what they reasonably can fault the president for. Consider these changes in unemployment during the last two presidents' terms: 4.2 percent in January of 2001 (Clinton leaves office) 7.8 percent in January of 2009 (Bush leaves office) Difference: 3.6 percent 7.8 percent in January of 2009 (Bush leaves office) 9.1 percent in July of 2011 (present) Difference: 1.3 percent 7.8 percent in January of 2009 (Bush leaves office) 10.1 percent in October of 2009 (Highest rate under Obama) Difference: 2.3 percent 10.1 percent in October 2009 (Highest rate under Obama) 9.1 percent in July 2001 (present) Difference: -1.0 percent What facts we can draw from this: while Obama didn't halt the rise of unemployment during the first few months of his tenure i...

Republican Sen. who voted against collective bargaining bill now the most powerful man in the state It's understandable why some within the progressive movement may seem deflated today. Having failed to pick up three seats in the recall contests last night, the Democratic Party won't be able to take control of the state Senate, thus ensuring the Republican Party retains control. But last night wasn't a defeat by any means. Two seats previously held by Republicans were won by Democrats -- that's two more seats that aren't in control of people who support Scott Walker. More importantly, that tips the scales of the Senate control from 19-14 to 17-16. Why is that important? Because Sen. Dale Schultz now becomes the most powerful man in that chamber. Schultz, a moderate Republican, was the only one within that caucus that went against his own party, voting against the controversial collective bargaining bill. For that reason, Democrats sought to keep Schultz out of...

Two days of canvassing, two days of thoughts on the recall campaign This is part two of my series on canvassing for the recall elections. You can read part one here . For the past three months I have canvassed against Gov. Walker's proposed budget as well as in favor of a recall candidate involved in one of the six contests taking place tomorrow. The following I wrote during the day on Monday, while near Baraboo. August 8, 2011 In 24 hours' time, most of the voters that will take part in tomorrow's recall contests will have gone to the polls. It's a bittersweet end to a job I have enjoyed (for the most part) over the past couple of months. I've worked for more than 40 days to ensure that people will spend four minutes or less in their polling booths tomorrow, making a vote for a candidate I believe will make Wisconsin a better place to live in -- or, at the very least, who will stand up to the agenda of Gov. Walker and his legislative allies. I bear the hea...

The Journal Sentinel released an editorial yesterday, and in the first sentence alone I have two separate ideas about the opinions of the JS staff. So not only are the recall elections ugly and unnecessary , they're expensive - and offer even more reason for campaign finance reform that requires transparency from all groups. (Emphases mine) One of those assertions I take issue with; the other, I can agree on. First, on what the JS gets right: campaign finance reform is sorely needed. But we knew this long before the recall elections took shape. Campaign spending in Wisconsin has been growing and growing, and with five of the Senate recalls breaking records on spending for legislative races in the state, it's clear that something has to be done. The emergence of " anonymous donors ," too, has me worried. But the Milwaukee newspaper is wholly wrong on these elections being "unnecessary." That is entirely up to the voters of those districts to decide. Recall ...

Two days of canvassing, two days of thoughts on the recall campaigns The following is part one of a two part series on my experiences over two days of canvassing. I have been working with different political canvassing organizations for the past three months, on the recalls as well as fighting against Gov. Walker's proposed budget. These two stories focus on my thoughts on the recall elections in the waning days of the canvass. Part one: August 4, 2001 I'm a tired, sweaty mess. Today is August 4, and there are five days until the recall elections. The weather is humid, overcast but still hot, and you can almost taste the moisture in the air. My shoe is broken, digging into my heel, a small reminder of the pain this state is experiencing under this governor's leadership. As a canvasser, I get sent out to cities and rural areas alike -- no potential vote is left unspoken to. Some people are pleasant, happy to see me, others are skeptical and rude. Those that fit the latter de...

Absentee ballots' return address sends ballots to conservative organization Democracy requires equality, openness, and most importantly fairness. When people refuse to play by the rules -- when they purposely distort information for the purposes of their own political gain -- democracy suffers for it. Running political advertisements that suggest your opponent raised her own salary while in office when just the opposite was true , for example, gives voters a false vision of reality, clouding their judgment against issues that truly matter (and truly exist) within the campaign. Such practices are rotten on their own. But when you distort information and propagate it for the purposes of disposing people's rights , it gets downright despicable. Americans For Prosperity, a Koch brothers-funded, Tea Party-affiliated organization, sent absentee ballots to households of strongly-identified Democrats, urging them to submit their ballots on August 11 -- two days after the r...

Citing conflicts of interest, Ozanne recommends a special prosecutor Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne has requested a special prosecutor to judge whether or not the county should pursue the case against Justice Davide Prosser, who allegedly put fellow Justice Anne Walsh Bradley in a stranglehold more than a month ago in her office. The move is the proper one to take: Ozanne, a Democrat, was the chief prosecutor over the case Prosser and Bradley had been arguing over, the collective bargaining bill. His decision to pursue further action could be conveyed as a personal act against Prosser, who ruled with the majority opinion authorizing the bill as having passed legally . I do not question the integrity of our county's district attorney. In fact, I have been quite pleased with him thus far during his tenure. But there is no doubt that the legitimacy of his actions could be questioned by conservatives if he were to pursue this case himself. Choosing to opt out of that deci...