Honorary Co-Chairman Of David Prosser’s Campaign Resigns

Oh my!  One can almost feel Prosser want to call someone a nasty name.

Former Democratic Gov. Patrick Lucey is withdrawing his support for incumbent Justice David Prosser for Wisconsin Supreme Court and is throwing it to Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg.

Lucey released a statement to the media Thursday evening saying the campaign has revealed what he called “a disturbing distemper and lack of civility” in Prosser, though he did not cite specifics.  

“I have followed with increasing dismay and now alarm the campaign of Justice David Prosser, whom I endorsed at the outset of his campaign and in whose campaign I serve as the honorary co-chairman,” Lucey said in the statement. “I can no longer in good conscience lend my name and support to Justice Prosser’s candidacy. Too much has come to light that Justice Prosser has lost that most crucial of characteristics for a Supreme Court Justice — as for any judge — even-handed impartiality. Along with that failing has come a disturbing distemper and lack of civility that does not bode well for the High Court in the face of demands that are sure to be placed on it in these times of great political and legal volatility.” 

Loons Return To Lake Monona, Groundhog Looks For Home

My Aunt Evie reminded me a few days ago that spring can not truly arrive until robins have snow on their feathers three times.

I have another way of determining the arrival of spring over the past few years.

When the loons arrive back on the local lakes it is time to say the season we have all waited for has indeed set up home here.

Today I noticed for the first time this season the larger heads of loons braving the cold water of Madison’s Lake Monona.  While large sections of the lake along the shore are open water, the center of the lake is still ice and waiting for high winds to help break it up. It is now only days until the lake is ice-free.

As I admired the graceful movements of a loon it did what everyone who watches one of these birds waits for.  It lowered its head into the water, and was gone.  For many seconds ( 15 seconds in this case) I looked at the whole area where the loon went under.  Then with an upward plop the dark feathers emerged after a fishing expedition.  Hard to say if lunch was caught, but the visuals from shore were impressive to see.

There is nothing more stark than to hear the call (or cry) of a loon.  For whatever reason it makes me think of the lonesome sound of a train whistle off in the night.  The sound of a loon evokes a deeper reflection from within and slows me down to ponder what life is all about.

So pull yourself closer to a Madison lake in the coming days, look for a loon this spring, and breathe in all that life offers.

In other wildlife news from this blogger’s home….

While looking out the window yesterday morning I noticed what I first thought was a different cat nosing its way along the foundation of the neighbor’s house.  I looked closer and then called for James to see the groundhog that was looking for some food.

This morning I awoke to the beginning of a nice sized hole in the middle of one of our recently mulched flower beds.  Not good…….

Now I love my little creatures that live outdoors and feed them so they know we care…..but the flower beds are not to be touched.

I noticed today that along one part of our home’s foundation there was some attempts made at burrowing.  Again, not good…..

There are plenty of places to live little guy, but not under the house.  And defiantly not in the middle of the day lilies.

How about down by the lake and under one of the huge rocks…..and I will still throw the bread out for a midnight snack?

Deal?

Best Line In Newspaper Today

“Qaddafi must be asking himself who will be the next to go.”

And so the story continues.

Mr. Koussa served as head of external intelligence in the 1980s, when Colonel Qaddafi drew American and Western condemnation for attacks like the 1988 bombing of an American passenger plane over Lockerbie, Scotland. The bombing killed 270 people, most of them Americans. In the past, American officials have said they suspect Mr. Koussa of responsibility for arranging the attacks.

Mr. Hague described him on Thursday as “one of the most senior members of the Qaddafi regime,” and said that Britain had been in previously undisclosed contact with Tripoli through Mr. Koussa.

“I have spoken to him several times on the telephone, most recently last Friday,” Mr. Hague said, citing Mr. Koussa’s departure as evidence that the Qaddafi government was “fragmented, under pressure and already crumbling from within.”

Sign Republican Recall Petition At Polling Places April 5th

There  is no hiding place for the Republican State Senators who joined hands with Governor Scott Walker when jumping off the cliff.  Wisconsin’s long fought labor laws should not be undone for the most base of political reasons.  But that is exactly what has happened in Wisconsin.  As such the fight to recall the Republicans who undermined the political process, along with the workers of this state not only continues….but gains steam.

On April 5th voters will not only have the chance to vote against David Prosser for Supreme Court, but also sign a recall petition at the same time.

It is a win-win.

Collecting recall petitions outside of polling places is kosher, according to a memo from state election officials, and organizers of several state Senate recall campaigns apparently plan to take advantage of that ruling on election day Tuesday.

Wisconsin Collective Bargaining ‘Law’ NOT In Effect

How long before the Fitzgerald brothers will dispute the judge, or the Republican Party send out another nasty press release berating the judge, or the even DOA Secretary trying to explain why they still need to go forward with implementing the ‘law’?

Just another day in the land of Scott Walker.  Would love to see the smile being wiped off his face as these legal orders come down.

The contentious collective bargaining law that strips most public workers of nearly all collective bargaining rights and force them to contribute more to their pension and health plans is not in effect, according to an amended restraining order released on Thursday morning.

Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Rep. Peter Barca welcomed Judge Sumi’s actions. In a statement Thursday he said, “The Judge made it abundantly clear on Tuesday that Gov. Walker that Gov. Walker and his administration, including DOA Secretary Mike Huebsch, should not be implenting Act 10. I believe she made it clear then with her order that stop means stop.”  

“But Mr. Walker and Mr. Huebsch chose to ignore her warning that they were jeopardizing the finances and stability of state government, apparently believing they are above the law. This morning with her added order she has taken away their last excuse,” Rep. Barca said.  

Rep. Barca also said, “Respect for the rule of law is a core Wisconsin value. When a court orders a halt to further implementation of a legislative proposal and suggests potential penalties and harm to the state are a serious risk, everyone should stop, listen and adhere to that order. Because the Republicans refused to do so, they have put state government stability at risk. I can only hope today’s amended order is crystal clear enough for them to stop disregarding the rule of law.

 

Are Young Interns Writing Dane County Republican Press Releases?

When my partner James read to me some quotes from the latest press release by the Dane County Republican Party I had to stop him and ask what site he was reading it from.  After all, it sounded so ridiculous that I wanted to make sure it was not from some lame satire writer.  

“No,” he said, “this is from WKOW TV.”

“What!”, I said….and then asked him to read it again.

The Republican Party of Dane County sent out a statement extending their criticism of Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi.

Sumi Tuesday reiterated her temporary halt to any progress of Governor Walker’s collective bargaining bill.

In the release sent out by Republican Party of Dane County spokesperson Jeff Waksman and staff member Blake Gober, Sumi is described as a “leftist,” her son as a “left wing activist,” and stated that if she were to “enforce the law of Wisconsin,” the jurist would “lose her friends!” 

In it, the Dane County GOP also accuses Sumi of prioritizing “foie gras” over “the well being of the people of Wisconsin.” 

The full press release is even more ridiculous.

One really has to wonder which leader of the local GOP thought that the press release was a good use of time and money.  It was not funny, and it reeks of contempt for the judicial branch of government.  Republicans like to let us know they love law and order, but when the tire meets the road they get all nasty.

When the GOP  did not get their way with Judge Sumi it appears they turned things over to the interns in the office.  That is really how the press release sounds.

Sophomoric and immature.

Some public relations advice is needed for these amateurs in the Dane County Republican Party when it comes to these legal matters.  First off, stick to the talking points of the law, and never let the other side know how pissed off you really are by slipping to juvenile high school- type writing.

Now go and get have a beer and for Pete’s Sake don’t put out anymore press releases until the adults get back!

14-Year-Old Kory Shore “Crying For America”

Eileen Bruskewitz Voted Against State Workers And Collective Bargaining

There will be a snowstorm in Madison on July Fourth before Eileen Bruskewitz is ever elected county executive.  A major blow-out election is about to take place in favor of Joe Parisi.  And rightly so.

But just in case there are any who are not aware of Eileen Bruskewitz’s inner thoughts about the chaos that has taken hold of Wisconsin due to Governor Walker and his assault on workers let this serve as a reminder.

From the start of the current struggle over Walker’s proposals, Parisi has been in the forefront of the defense of worker rights in the Assembly and on the streets.

Bruskewitz has stood with the governor.

In February, Dane County Supervisor Melissa Sargent led a group of supervisors in proposing a resolution that declared: “The Dane County Board of Supervisors supports the Wisconsin worker and supports the right to organize and collectively bargain. We stand opposed to Gov. Walker’s attack on the middle class and on the rights of Wisconsin workers.”

The overwhelming majority of supervisors, from across the political and ideological spectrum, voted “yes.”

Bruskewitz voted “no.” At the same time, she issued statements defending the governor’s wrongheaded proposals and authoritarian approach.