Every major election cycle we are forced to watch Republicans run the same drill, attempting to suppress the votes of people that are not likely to support them. Usually they lead the press by the nose making wild and unfounded accusations of widespread voter fraud and then use those false claims to push policies like […]
MILWAUKEE — State Rep. John Murtha recently made statements to a newspaper reporter that he believes he owed state taxes in 2007 – but he didn’t have any additional details to offer or know the amount paid. Given that he has paid no state income taxes during the last five years, Rep. Murtha’s inability to […]
How comical is that the Wisconsin representative to the so-called ‘Palin Truth Squad’ is Margaret Farrow? The ‘Squad’ presumably will criticize anyone who brings up Sarah Palin’s ethics scandal, truth bending, right-wing extremism and revisionist history. Or those who point out that Palin refuses to talk to reporters and won’t answer questions. This is a […]
Today George W. Bush revealed plans to bring 8,000 of the 146,000 troops in Iraq back home. This very small ‘drawdown’ basically leaves the U.S. force intact and is George W. Bush’s way of saying that he is passing his expensive mess on to the next president. While he was talking about bringing a small […]
State Rep. John Murtha recently made statements to a newspaper reporter that he believes he owed state taxes in 2007 – but he didn’t have any additional details to offer or know the amount paid. Given that he has paid no state income taxes during the last several years, Rep. Murtha’s inability to recall whether he […]
Today One Wisconsin Now is debuting the new comic series ‘McCain and Unable.‘ (McCainAndUnable.com)It will highlight the Bush-McCain follies, showing what would happen if the wealthy ideological soulmates were forced to go out into the real world and deal with the consequences of their failed policies. The first episode, ‘McCain and Unable Go to the […]
On Wednesday, the SEIU will be demonstrating outside of a State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) monthly meeting, as they expose the losses and mismanagement of a Lazard-affiliated investment, owned by state and international pension funds. The SEIU activists will call on SWIB to stop gambling with workers’ pension fund money. The demonstrators ‘will target […]
One Wisconsin Now conducted its 2nd Annual Progressive Issues Survey at Fight Bob Fest over the weekend. Last year the top issue was health care reform followed by the war in Iraq, education, the environment, and civil rights/liberties. This year health care reform was again picked by Fighting Bob participants as the top issue of […]
I just came back from FightingBobFest, and was reminded why we need to keep fighting. See, I used to blog on Lefty issues. But I got tired of it, of spending the time on writing posts that so few would see, and that had very little chance of actually affecting anything or anyone. The Right […]
Scott Ritter, the former UN weapons inspector and a harsh critic of Bush-Cheney policies in Iraq and Iran, who has authored three influential books on the subject, will speak in Milwaukee tonight. Ritter has warned since last spring that Bush and Cheney are likely to attack Iran during their remaining days in the White House. […]
It looks like Republican Party efforts to prevent people from voting were dealt a serious blow with news that four of six of the member of the state’s Government Accountability Board failed when their names were process through a new voter identification test. Why is this news? Because the Republican Party has been trying to […]
There was a theme during the Republican National Convention that was as nasty as it was revealing. Speaker after speaker denigrated and mocked the service and work of community organizers. McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin repeatedly questioned the relevance of such selfless service. In typical Rovian fashion, they did most of this just after having […]
As John McCain prepares to come to Wisconsin Friday, progressive leaders agree that McCain unfortunately offers more of the same. McCain has been one of the biggest supporters of the same failed policies of George W. Bush that have been a disaster for the nation and the State of Wisconsin. Wall to wall, McCain has […]
One Wisconsin Now will hold its 2nd annual progressive issues survey at Fighting Bob Fest this Saturday, in Baraboo. Last year we invited attendees to identify the issues that are most important to them. The number one issue at that time was health care reform, followed by Iraq, education, the environment, and civil rights/liberties. Progressives […]
John McCain and the right wing have dubbed his choice for running mate, Sarah Palin, as a reformer. McCain has gone even further actually calling Palin his ‘soul mate.’ That is difficult to believe unless McCain has totally abandoned his oft-professed hatred of earmarks. The Associated Press has compared Palin’s 20 month record as Governor […]
Wispolitics.com reported that the as-yet-unfrogmarched Karl Rove, apologized to Wisconsin’s delegates at a Republican National Convention event this morning for “getting weepy.” He wasn’t crying to atone to God and man for being the hack architect for this god awful endless war in Iraq that has caused so many deaths and so much misery. And […]
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy has released its 2008 State of Working Wisconsin report and in surprise to very few, the George W. Bush economy continues to batter the state. In what appears to be a consistent theme throughout the Bush economy, the report finds that although productivity is up that many workers are simply […]
The phantom southside Milwaukee candidate for state assembly, Jose Guzma¡n, is at last revealing himself contending with his recruitment by the political operative, Tom Reynolds, the notorious former state senator known for his anti-Catholic views and often bizarre political behavior. After weeks of silence, Guzma¡n is meeting criticism of his campaign by finally speaking to […]
Only a couple weeks ago the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans and many others across the nation celebrated the 73rd birthday of the single most successful program in the history of our country, Social Security. Even though it has kept many millions out of poverty as they have grown older, just last month John McCain […]
Topic: Where America Is Headed OWN: The economy is on everyone’s mind these days. What are you hearing from your members about the failed economic policies of George W. Bush and John McCain? Sara Rogers: Our country is headed in the wrong direction. Unemployment is up, wages are down, and we’re sending too many good, […]
Ah, the point when someone goes from being just a jerk to be an all-out comic book villain. Today’s entrant: John McCain health care adviser John Goodman. “The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring […]
U.S. Senator John McCain is having a campaign rally in New Orleans tonight just before the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Who can forget the picture of a smiling McCain and George W. Bush holding a birthday cake the morning that the disaster hit? Even worse, who could forget that John McCain twice voted against […]
The Government Accountability Board is weighing in on a proposed rule change which, according to the non-partisan League of Women Voters, would disenfranchise voters and cause ending chaos at polling places across Wisconsin. Wisconsin League Executive Director outlined the serious problems with the proposed rule being considered by GAB today. The rule places additional unnecessary […]
Today is the 88th anniversary of women winning the right to vote. Eighty-eight years after women getting the equality to vote, John McCain still does not think that women deserve equal pay. McCain, like George W. Bush, has the wrong policies for America’s women and for struggling families. Even just a brief look at his […]
Witness Against War, the 500-mile walk from Chicago to St. Paul, is in its final week, and will arrive this weekend in time for the Republican convention. Bill Christofferson, an antiwar atheist, walked with the group of Catholic Workers for a day last weekend, on the Mississippi River from Pepin to Maiden Rock, and reports […]
Just over a week ago, the One Wisconsin Institute launched an email campaign asking concerned citizens to send a message to the board members of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC). To date over 10,000 communications have been generated in that very short time. This is just another example of how people all across the state […]
At the beginning of this month, Sen. John McCain made a stop (read ‘gimmick’) in Sturgis, South Dakota in an attempt to energize motorcycle enthusiasts, joking about tire gauges and getting some cheers after making hollow statements like ‘This is my first time here but I recognize that sound. It’s the sound of freedom and […]
Yesterday we told you about the early success of our email campaign to the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) board. Since then many more people have responded and thousands more emails have been sent flooding the inboxes of those that sit on the WMC Board. If you have not yet had the opportunity to speak […]
Last week Rep. Frank Lasee announced his latest harebrained scheme, to drill for oil in the Great Lakes. There is nothing like handing over your most precious resource to an industry that can’t be trusted. And for what? For the remote chance that they will find (or spill) oil in 15 years and possibly save […]
The staff and leadership of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) have proven that they are drunk with partisanship. The only hope is for both the rank and file and higher profile members to have a long overdue intervention. The long list of events over the last several months should finally inspire the legitimate business interests […]
Tuesday was a Happy Day in Milwaukee as most of the original cast of the popular show came to town for the unveiling of the Bronze Fonz. There was a full schedule with a dedication/unveiling, a parade through downtown and a ceremony at Miller Park just before a Brewer game. During the television coverage of […]
We have seen the Bush energy policy at work now for nearly eight years, it seems to be a plan based on not leaving any big oil and gas company behind. The policy appears to be the following simple formula: give a free pass to these massive special interests in any way possible, give them […]
A story has been popping around the internets about a lawsuit John McCain’s mom filed against his first wife back in 1980. While this tale may at long last make the story of McCain leaving his injured first wife to court the millionaire beer baroness to whom he is now married of interest to the […]
Once again, elected officials have pounced on a report by the Tax Foundation to mislead taxpayers into thinking that Wisconsin can’t afford to adequately fund its public institutions. The latest cases are Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) and Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), who separately cited a new study by the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation, claiming […]
Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty is making his second trip of the summer to Wisconsin. He will be going to John McCain fundraisers in both Madison and Milwaukee that will cost $1,000 per couple. Rather than run around Wisconsin trying to raise money for campaigns, it might be advisable for Pawlenty to go back home […]
Eleven events are scheduled in Wisconsin on Friday, August 15, as part of the Iraq Moratorium, a growing national, grassroots effort to end the war and occupation of Iraq. This is the 12th month of such actions. Wisconsin has had more local events than any other state except California, with six times the population. Two […]
John McCain has described “Buy American” provisions as “ludicrous” [Congressional Record, 10/7/05] and has even gone so far as to sponsor and pass amendments to waive them. On Tuesday, the same day Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett held a press conference at the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council, Steelworkers leafleted USW worksites across the state […]
Today marks the 73rd birthday of the single most successful government program in the history of our country, Social Security. As such, it is rightfully being honored by the Alliance for Retired Americans (AAR) at events all across Wisconsin. They will be holding noon events in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison. AAR is the same […]
You wouldn’t know it from the big headline in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel or if you listened to any of the right wing paranoia, but the voter registration system in Milwaukee is working exactly as it should. Organizations have been very successful in registering voters in very large numbers, something that is critical in a […]
The issue of religion in the United States has always been one the Supreme Court has been quick to avoid. We can hardly blame them; it’s perhaps the most contentious political topic this nation faces. However, it cannot continually be avoided, and so here in Wisconsin is a case involving a man named Gary Kazmarek. […]
Pro-corporate soulmate Supremes Mike Gableman and Annette Ziegler get closer by the day. The latest revelation, Gableman’s going to pull a Ziegler and rule on cases where Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is involved ‘ despite WMC dumping nearly $2 million during his run to get on the high court. Ziegler earned front page headlines after […]
From the legislator who brought the great state of Wisconsin a plan to arm teachers with guns in an effort to curb school violence (you all remember his hilarious appearance on the Daily Show about 2 years ago’¦), comes another idea worthy of all kinds of jokes and ridicule ‘ lifting a ban on drilling […]
Update: Readers can contact the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (MJS) on this matter at: Letters to the Editor http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=766191 Milwaukee, Wisconsin’Donna Ganong is a 70-year-old widow running a corner tavern on Milwaukee’s near-south side. In early July, Mrs. Ganong tried to help a crying, hungry dog in an alley, and the Milwaukee police fined her $350 for […]
Kathy Kelly, a leader of the Witness Against War walk from Chicago to St. Paul, was arrested Sunday in a nonviolent action at Fort McCoy. In another post, she explains why she and others do what they do. —Xoff By John LaForge TUNNEL CITY, Wisconsin — The long history of anti-nuclear protests in Wisconsin caught […]
Back in April I found out about the Witness Against War walk being put on by Voices for Creative Nonviolence. Kathy Kelly was at a member meeting for the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, where I am a work study student, since my GI Bill was just used up it is a great opportunity […]
The Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF) has done an analysis of Senator John McCain’s oil industry subsidies plan and it doesn’t look pretty. At a time when Big Oil has all of us over a barrel and is making such obscene profits, John McCain is proposing massive tax giveaways and other hand outs […]
Over the weekend the Wisconsin State Journal ran a story about the search for a new head for the Department of Commerce. It addresses how the right choice for the job is particularly important right now, during a challenging economy. The story goes on to quote state Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) who trots out the […]
WMC has launched a (multi-)million dollar fundraising campaign to its members to finance continued issue-based smear campaigns against progressives who don’t kow-tow to WMC’s pro-corporate, anti-worker agenda. We all know WMC has distorted the records of numerous public officials over the years, most notably in recent efforts to get the ethically-challenged Mike Gableman and Annette Ziegler […]
The Green Bay Press Gazette is reporting that the City of Green Bay will have to spend more money by going to federal court next month. The lawsuit was filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and 14 area residents at the end of last year. It involves a religious display that City Council President […]
It looks like we can all expect the races for the state Assembly to get really ugly this year, primarily because Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) plans on buying up as much ad time as possible. Some observers expect them to spend as much as $7 million to keep their iron fisted control of the […]