Political Heat

Some rights go beyond democratic preference Radio personality and political commentator Mitch Henck says we should let the states decide on the issue of marriage equality through a vote of the people. Mitch Henck “That way people can feel good about, it or accept defeat a lot more easily than if just a few judges decide for you,” he says . OK then. Let’s presume that’s the best method. Let’s allow the states to decide same-sex marriage. For that matter, let’s let the states decide on the issue of interracial marriage. Loving v. Virginia determined in the 1960s that bans on those marriages were unconstitutional. But it must have left people feeling uneasy after a “few judges” decided that, right? So let’s undo that decision. For that matter, let’s undo Griswold v. Connecticut , which allowed women the right to contraception. Surely some religious groups had gripes with that decision as well. And Brown v. Board of Education was a Court-decided case also. That one REALL...

you have to resort to this: apologies for my dirty windshield but these folks were on 4 overpasses today at rush hour between Silver Spring Dr and the Zoo Interchange on Highway 45 south going towards Milwaukee. Now you'd think these are maybe just your typical bigoted anti gay wing nuts...sent out by the Wisconsin "Family Council"...but they're not. As soon as I saw what the website on that banner was ( www.defytyrants.com )...I knew who was behind this. None other then "Pastor" (and as a Christian I'm using that term loosely here) Matt Trewhella. Who is he you might ask? He might not be on your radar cuz he wasn't on mine til about a year ago I happened to be watching the public affairs program called "In Focus" on WVCY (which bills itself as a local Christian tv station...but about 50% of the time they're promoting right wing politics) and this guy was on talking about this very subject...how Walker should "defy...

In four decades since waiting period went into effect, State Senator can point to only one incident, a questionable one at that LISTEN to this story State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) Yesterday I wrote a piece about why the governor and legislature were wrong to support a measure ending the 48-hour gun waiting period . I essentially said that deregulation of gun laws won't lead to a safer Wisconsin, providing examples in the state and elsewhere that such measures had failed. I wasn't the only one who wrote about the 48-hour waiting period. State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) also had something to say , although his piece was largely in favor of removing the waiting period, a response to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's editorial scolding Republicans for scrapping the law. The second paragraph in his piece caught my attention. In it, Wanggaard wrote : For every gun violence story that the Journal Sentinel cited as a reason for this antiquated law, I could ...

Reasonable debate and examination of statistics relating to violence missing from debate over ending 48-hour waiting period For a follow-up on this article, please click here . Gov. Scott Walker will likely sign a proposed bill into law that would remove a 48-hour “cooling off” period for gun purchases across the state. Current law on weapons purchases requires all gun sales to have a two-day waiting period. The bill, if signed by Walker, would eliminate that requirement. It’s unclear who asked for this bill to be introduced in the first place. Its need is questionable as well -- no undue burden is placed on gun owners by requiring a waiting period, a fact you’d hear many of them admit to if asked. Nevertheless, this bill’s passage into law is considered to be an inevitability, the latest in a line of laws passed by Republicans in the state legislature and signed by Walker dealing with the deregulation of gun ownership. That’s troubling, and recent statistics demonstrat...

Walker has demonstrated his willingness to bend over backwards for Kochs while holding an office of public trust Scott Walker has earned his first major endorsement as he contemplates running for president. In front of a group of donors in Manhattan, David Koch, one half of the infamous Koch Brothers political machine, had high regards for Walker. And in private, some said that Koch preferred Walker over any other viable candidate . “When the primaries are over and Scott Walker gets the nomination ,” Mr. Koch told the crowd, the billionaire brothers would support him, according to a spokeswoman. The remark drew laughter and applause from the audience of fellow donors and Republican activists, who had come to hear Mr. Walker speak earlier at the event, held at the Union League Club. Two people who attended the event said they heard Mr. Koch go even further, indicating that Mr. Walker should be the Republican nominee . Emphases added. And why shouldn’t the Kochs want Walker?...

Easing laws that aim to punish marijuana users the right direction to take State Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) recently submitted a bill encouraging the legalization of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational purposes. ”Marijuana prohibition has not worked for Wisconsin. Ending this prohibition in our state would promote personal freedom and liberty, create financial opportunity, and increase safety and security in our communities. We have spent countless taxpayer dollars, imprisoned non-violent offenders, perpetuated falsehoods, and created a dangerous black market. This must end,” Rep. Sargent stated. The bill has almost no chance of passing the Republican-held legislature. But Sargent is absolutely right to submit it nevertheless. Rep. Melissa Sargent D-Madison Marijuana poses no significant potential to harm society at-large. It’s no more dangerous than alcohol and no more unhealthy than conventional cigarettes. In some ways it’s healthier -- while people can o...