Citizens United, unrevisited

Well, there you have it! In overturning Montana's sensible century-old restrictions on campaign spending, The Supreme Injustices in Washington have reminded us all, once again, of our basic obligation to be polite and sociable. Next time you drive through a suburban business strip, remember to pay Ms. Dairy Queen the same kind of courtesy you'd extend to any other friend; tip your hat or wave and call out "Hello, dear!" When you travel through Mr. Weyerhaeuser's Oregon property, remember to give a little beep of the horn, and yell: "Thanks for letting me drive on your (18,000 acre) front lawn, Mr. Weyerhaeuser!" Corporations ARE people, my friend. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/opinion/the-court-citizens-united.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Ron is very unKIND

Today's Demo protesting Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) was a Barrel of Fun! Not only did Representative Kind vote in favor of the Iraq War, he's one of the "Blue Dogs" who keeps voting in favor of funding and perpetuating the war in Afghanistan. He's also very pro-"Free Trade." We waved "Communist" Chinese flags and chanted things like: "Free Trade isn't Free!" I made up a slogan of my own: "This is NOT K STREET - This is MAIN STREET!" Boy, was Ron Kind surprised and pissed off when he walked up to Brocach Irish Pub on Capitol Square in Madison. A small but very spirited rally of perhaps 50 or 100 people, maximum. But you shoulda seen it! That is, if you were one of those who missed it. Let it not be said I let politicians off the hook just 'cause they're Dems: http://www.ontheissues.org/​House/Ron_Kind_War_+_Peace.htm http://www.examiner.com/article/activists-target-madison-ron-kind-fundraiser-over-free-trade-and-war-votes

Dog Food

Seeing how Tropical Storm Debby is now or will soon be pounding the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas, all that is possible should be done to aid the residents of the Redneck Riviera. All that is possible, that is, within the potential of PRIVATE organizations alone. Let the Red Cross handle it Solo. Since Florida Governor Rick Scott - that Government employee - and his supporters purport to be so "Anti-Big Government," they must decline any and all asisstance from the Federals. Federal Government, that is. No official state of emergency should be honored - that would be Government interference of the BIGGEST and Worst kind. Suffering, schmuffering! The Tea Baggers, Koch Brothers, ALEC, Scott Walker and all the other supposedly rugged individualists were instrumental in turning us Wisconsinites into a population of 5.3 million lab rats. They did so in the name of their very selective "Austerity." We're enduring a brutal form of collective punishment here; so let them eat dog food down there, for all I care: http://www.youtube.com/​watch?v=03sf-hJZ4OQ&feature=rel​ated

Eli Eli lama sabachthani

As Johnny Carson used to bait Ed McMahon and the rest of the Tonight Show audience: "So just how damn dumb are most Americans?..." And they'd answer..."Johnny, they're so damn dumb that..." In this connection, I was eating dinner at a modestly-priced restaurant just now with a friend who happens to be "christian." I launched into the old joke that by now he's heard a thousand times: "Well, I don't mind one bit if you Christers want to worship a nice Jewish boy..." Tommy was nodding his head in amused affirmation when a dork from a nearby table said: "Jesus wasn't Jewish." "Ah yeah," I replied, "whatever you say." Quite unusually easy-going for me. Didn't have the heart to add, "Well, according to Your Own Gospels, among 'Our Lord's' very last 'mortal' words were these: 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?'" MAYBE Aramaic, but CERTAINLY not Norwegian, not Spanish, not Polish. Rather, very likely Hebrew, translated - by way of New Testament Greek - into 1610's King James Bible. It means "My Lord, why hast thou forsaken me?" So I suppose, under duress, Jesus suffered a Momentary Lapse of Linguistic Reason? I guess he called out to Gawd in his native Latin that day? And so tonight I'm imploring Him: "Gawd, PLEASE save me from your 'Foolowers!'" All of this, of course is predicated on the questionable existence of Jesus Christ.

Bummer, man.

I don't mean to be a downer, but... I can't help feeling that "...all the poisons that lurk in the mud ARE hatching out." There seems to be something inexorable about the Road to Hell we're on. I really don't know if the War Train can be stopped, but it certainly won't so much as slow down, long as 280+ million Americans are either too reactionary, too stupid, or too disaffected to even try. We in Wisconsin know what I mean - that it's tough, really tough, to keep fighting the good fight. I've seen so many whom I thought would persevere, I've seen them... just give the hell up, roll over. There may indeed be such a thing as Destiny, if not Fate. Well, I just had three espressos and registered for to post my inciteful commentary on Isthmus's "The Daily Page." First time I've been there in three, four years. I feel better already! I really mean it! "Can you tell me how to get, how to get to..." ...the nearest Fallout Shelter! Best of luck, everybody!

Cool, Dark, Slightly Musty Tavern Just Outside Phoenix

He, the Desert Wind. Blows such peace If you're away, away along ago. Avoid all light all heat all noise all sourcing confusion. Child is close to the edge Too close. Don't argue with me Don't argue with you Not Today Not Tomorrow. Comrade Comfort, on the short fuse lit. T'was once, THAT was a time "A Time to TRY the SOUL of Man! Wasn't that a time? Isn't that a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TIME!" NOT just "Because." Thanks, Pete! The Heron, he told you "It's Winter, Winter in America." And IT was. Always take me to, take me too. Dear Delighted FRIGID Paradise! Always And Ever AGAIN! Good Times! Neptune Here I COME. But NOW, Don't PUSH me! Don't TOUCH me! Even IF you Love me. ESPECIALLY if you Love me. So Happy, DAMN Happy! What a bother it used to be Caring. Maria sang, sang of Midnight. Now that's the RIGHT Time. "Midnight at the Oasis..." Lo, we hear in his SCREAM: "I get so lonely LONELY for the NIGHT (because) I can't DREAM." A Cool, dark slightly musty tavern Just Outside Phoenix. I've never BEEEN. Except in the life of the CHILD. The Air Conditioning's ON. Who needs a beer? Give me MY Martini, My first Ever. DRY. Cool. Action. Delayed. We'll Live to Slave... ANOTHER DAY.

Watergate 40

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, which took place on June 17, 1972. Below is a piece I wrote on that subject in 2010, mimimally re-edited today for punctuation, style, and grammar: Did it start with WATERGATE? No, not the age-old political dirty tricks. Rather, the monumental, "fashionable" apathy. Were millions so shocked, so scandalized by Nixon's minor malfeasance - which ended up nailing him - they simply dropped out of meaningful politics? I'm talking about Tricky Dick's minor crimes, as he was actually caught and forced to resign on account of a second-rate break-in at Democratic National Committee Headquarters; not for the massive war crimes committed in SE Asia. But the real focus of my inquiry concerns the American Public. I'll always remember being ten years old and visiting my best friend's house in the Summer of 1973. Nancy, Peter's mom, was glued to the telescreen, enthralled with the Watergate Hearings. I was naturally bored on the one hand, being ten years old, and quite unable to fathom why Ms. ____ was so obsessed with such nonsense. On the other hand, I was fascinated, intrigued with the intrigue. Of course, the United States had experienced political scandal before. Teapot Dome in the 1920's. Bobby Baker's misdeeds during the LBJ years. Nixon's 1952 "Checkers" imbroglio. But never before had so many Americans paid so much attention to cloak-and-dagger antics emanating from the White House. So how do we explain the subsequent humongous level of depoliticization in the aftermath of the "Plumbers'" shenanigans? In May 1960, Eisenhower had already been caught red-handed in a major diplomatic LIE, when he falsely denied Francis Gary Powers had been shot down during a U-2 spying mission over the USSR. Faith in the supposed truthfulness of Presidents certainly took a hit; but the early-'60s populace generally didn't seem to wallow, as a result, in complete indifference. But following Watergate, it became "cool" to not give a shit. "Cool," when I was in Middle School in 1975, was showing off your Converse All Stars and running around the Gym to the tune of "Pickin' Up The Pieces" by the Average White Band. Don't get me wrong - Great Song! It was evidently quite cool to make it known to everyone you'd seen the latest "Tony Orlando And Dawn" episode on ABC. Of course, I'm talking about kids here, but I'll wager many of those mental children who were absolutely THRILLED by "The Towering Inferno" were over 18 years of age. CONVERSELY (heh heh) it became equally "uncool" to care about things that actually mattered; eyes were interminably rolled to high heaven if you so much as mentioned any actual, grown-up ISSUE. By the time I entered High School in 1977, the fashionable boredom was so thick you could cut it with a switchblade. Example: We had Madison's Chief of Police visit the class one day. I expected someone to challenge him, to call him a goddamn fascist pig, SOMETHING. Instead, the entire class, girls and boys alike, sat there for 60 minutes like a bunch of granite statues. Myself as well: I wouldn't have been caught dead being curious and "uncool." Now more than ever, I realize scarcely anyone gives a shit, so I'll STFU and have a nice day. P.S: What did Nixon/Walker know and when did he know it? http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Wars_of_Watergate.html?id=k2U9w6RVpowC

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Kevin: If the believers in God and other spiritualists are right, you're still out there somewhere. Alternately, if I'm right, there is only a pitch-black, eternal void after we die. Either way: Happy 51st birthday to Jimmy the Go-Go Man!!

Bored and disgusted. With love,...

I'm so damn bored and disgusted with those on "my" side of the political divide, including the putatively "Spiritual" types who insist we here in Badgerland need to meditate, accomodate and ultimately collaborate in the supposedly inevitable process of our own socio-economic undoing. By all means! Let's discover some new and self-pacifying, lovey-dovey sentiment to direct toward our Pathological RepubliCON adversaries. Let's jump for joy while we make nice with the likes of Scott Walker, Leah Vukmir, Jeff FitzGerald, Robin Voss and Mitt Romney. It's Reconciliation Time, eh, Unitarians? How's about we send David Koch a nice little Sponge-Bob toy, covered with XoXoXos, written in lipstick? Get thee hence, and gently paint another question mark on somebody ELSE's face, oh Ye pontificating political appeasers of the flimsiest motivation! Personally, I don't lack the slightest doubt concerning MY resolve. Listening to all the crap circulating now about "we need to mend fences with the GOP" EXTREMISTS, you'd think Frederick Douglass had it all wrong. Turns out the famous saying really goes: "Power concedes anything, if only we continue to utter our plaintive wail." I'm Dan Goldstein, and I APPROVE of this colorful rant. Please check out the following, with special attention paid to the President's speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uX508P-FUs

Syria: Too close to "USS Israel"

I've been watching the BBC news which airs here at about 11:30 nightly. I'm deeply disturbed by images of the ongoing bombardment and slaughter in Homs and other cities. But I oppose the notion that the US should intervene there, an unlikely prospect anyway, as Syria is just a bit too close to the "USS Israel." Why did it take me only a few seconds' reflection to oppose the prospect of US military intervention? I can answer that in 10 points: 1. Last year's NATO intervention in Libya was less than a spectacular success. 2. The catastrophic, unconstitutional, immoral 2003 Iraq War, and its subsequent disastrous occupation. 3. The illegal, criminal 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan and the ongoing disastrous conflict/occupation in Af-Pak. 4. The current non-reported US war against Yemen. 5. The disastrous 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia/Kosovo. 6. The disastrous, murderous 1993 US invasion/intervention in Somalia, and it's present reincarnation. 7. The criminal, illegal US-led Guf War of 1991. 8. The disastrous, murderous US invasion and occupation of Panama, beginning in 1989. 9. The outrageous 1983 US invasion of tiny Grenada. 10. The spectacularly genocidal US war against Vietnam from 1961-1975. I'll address today's US saber-rattling directed against Iran at a later date. Anyone need any more reasons justifying my opposition to these US/NATO interventions?

Concerning travels to post industrial wastelands. For and English friend.

I will definitely try to expand upon this. Meanwhile, you are exclusively invited to fly to Detroit International Airport, where I'll meet you near the duty-free shop. We'll ride the suburban transit bus to a point near Detroit's city limits, split the price of a clean but inexpensive room with two beds, and get some rest. Next morning bright and early, we'll head Downtown, where we'll combine your artisitc ability with my statistical skills, or versa-vicea. We'll conduct important sociological research. We'll interview Detroit residents on such questions as: "How does it feel to not only be "down-sized" and disenfranchised PERSONALLY, but on a vast, municipal level as well?"; "Does it usually take the Detroit Fire Department half an hour or an entire hour to respond to a 911 (999) call, or do they never arrive at all as the house next door burns to the ground?"; "Do you pity General Motors' billionaire CEO?" Oops, I forgot, I was the one who first asked you to be my FB friend, so I owe you a trip to the UK first. After my arrival at Heathrow, I'll meet you at the International Terminal. We'll rest up a bit, then we'll travel to Glasgow...:)

Rock River Valley Blues

Whoever posted this youtube video needs to work on their grammar, composition, and spelling. But I can vouch for the accuracy of these images, having made a trip to Janesville on May 4, 2012. I actually walked down Delavan Drive, which borders the closed plant to the north. I saw the ghostly specter of a formerly productive, currently deserted factory. This is how things presently ARE, not as the "Free Market's" wishful thinking WOULD have them be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evS4GuPPsJk

Detroit, soon to be revisited

Dan Goldstein's next major trip of geographic exploration and socio-economic investigation outside Wisconsin will be to Detroit Michigan, which I haven't visited since September 1999. There are cheap, decent hotels in Royal Oak, a suburb situated a few miles north of Eight Mile Road. Back then, during the Clinton Era "Boom Years," I rode the city buses. One of them had graffiti, written in magic marker: "Beware of pickpockets and thieves on Detroit city buses." I saw many, many dilapidated residences and others that were boarded-up or even burnt out. I saw several beautiful, mostly deserted art-deco skyscrapers, many dating from the 1920's or possibly even earlier. Strolling north from Downtown's Cadillac Square, I made my way up Woodward Avenue in the daytime. There were many vacant storefronts. One store that was in business had a sign on the front door, berating the burglars who had recently broken in. After a quick stop to check my email at the main Detroit Public Library, I continued northbound. I saw large areas north of Wayne State University, some covering entire city blocks, that apparently had been abandoned since 1967's "Detroit Rebellion." There were weeds growing there; I swear, some appeared to be as tall as a two-story house. I hope to make a long-awaited return trip during the first week of July. I'd invite you all, but I prefer to travel single. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6WKMNmFsxM

What about Rockford?

Dan Goldstein took a trip one week ago, 65 miles south of Madison, to Rockford, Illinois. I decided to visit the area around 6th Avenue and Kishwaukee St, where I spent an interesting weekend during Sep or Oct 1982. In '82, Rockford's Near South Side was a moderately prosperous, predominently "white" working class district, bounded on the South and West by some highly productive industrial areas, and other manufacturing areas that appeared to be suffering from 1981-82's "Reagan Recession." I didn't detect many signs of active manufacturing last Monday, but we'll get to that in a minute. Good news about Rockford? The "Sixth and Kishwaukee" area is now much more "racially integrated." The Bad? It's now a "mixed" district that appears to be populated mainly by poor people. Strolling down Kishwaukee, a major traffic artery, I saw Hispanic people drive by in their cars. I passed by two young black men leaving a market, one carrying a 12-pack of beer. I passed a house (could it have been the one I stayed in?) whose white inhabitants cast me a wary glance - it's possible they were in the midst of an alcoholic reverie. In general, it was obvious quite a few vacant lots now occupy the space where houses and apartment buildings once stood, and many of the surviving residences have windows boarded up, or show other clear signs of disrepair/abandonment. I'm currently attempting to find enlightening digital pics of the area. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_40420.htm#51-0000

What about Detroit?

It may seem obsessive on my part, and perhaps it is. But I find myself frequently preoccupied with such questions: "What does it mean for the (low income and working class, especially) People of the United States when the Mayor of our once proud Motor City, Detroit, announced in 2010 his unprecedented plan to demolish at least one fourth of Motown's remaining neighborhoods, the aim being to concentrate Detroit's 700,000 or 750,000 inhabitants (Detroit's population was approximately 1,800,000 in 1950!) into a geographically limited number of "viable" districts?" The issue goes far beyond Detroit, to equally devastated Flint in Michigan. To Cleveland, Canton and Akron in Ohio. Buffalo NY and St. Louis Missouri. Here in Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Janesville, Racine and Beloit aren't quite in the Detroit/Flint category, but they're sure suffering. I'd very much like to hear or see, from academics and the unemployed; from professional demographers and Rust Belt refugees; from anyone with an opinion. Share your stories, your analysis, your hopes and dreams. Your demands that the USA - the need seems plain as daylight to me - embrace a NEW Industrial Policy. How about ANY Manufacturing policy at all? I'm no professor, but I'd appreciate valuable input of a statistical, personal, even anecdotal nature. Though I intend to subject the latter (both positive and negative in their implications) to a vigorous analysis. I'm prepared to stay open-minded and dispassionate. I'll give due consideration to all viewpoints. This subject continues to be much in the way of a learning experience for me. http://loadstonerock.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/bulldozing-detroit-a-radical-solution-for-urban-blight/ http://www.npr.org/2011/07/21/138576100/is-detroit-the-next-brooklyn

CAN Stand the heat!

Now this kind of DRY 90-degree F. heat I can tolerate, even LIKE. Quite unlike my summer vacations in South Florida, where the 95-degree Fahrenheit days were accompanied by 95% humidity, day after sweat-soaked day, from May till September! Palm Beach County, where the COLD water would come out of the tap HOT. And I mean HOT, not luke-warm. The nights down there, for some odd reason, seemed hotter than the days. The only saving grace was a typically dependable sea breeze off the Atlantic. But this, by comparison, is A-OK! One's just got to make sure to drink enough water, take it easy, wear sunglasses that protect against 99% of Ultra-violet rays, and apply a good sunscreen. Enjoy!

Ah Well. Another stolen election.

Ah well. The extent to which the Democrat-leaning vote was supressed couldn't have changed the outcome, so forget about it, RIGHT? Hey, I don't know about YOU all, but... somewhere along the line I was taught that ANY amount of electoral crookedness provided ample cause to doubt and challenge the final tally. Silly me: in this day and age, Republican-sposored election theft is simply taken for granted. So "Why fight (Waukesha) City Hall, eh!?!" Tell you what: Scores of people DIED attempting to secure their RIGHT to cast a ballot for the candidate of their choice, as recently as circa 1965. This is no petty/irrelevant matter! http://warisacrime.org/content/reports-voter-suppression-wisconsin-robocalls-targeting-recall-petition-signers

Roll over, Barrett, roll over.

That's just about what Barrett deserved, for making me eat my words about his "running an admirable campaign this time around." It sure as hell isn't admirable to concede to a monster like Scott Walker before all the votes have been counted, and while of anecdotal evidence of voter supression against pro-recall voters were (still are) making the rounds. Shame on YOU, Tom Barrett - never again will I cast so much as a PROTEST VOTE for you, as I did in last night's recall election! http://www.wqow.com/story/18719291/tom-barrett-was-slapped-by-supporter

One possible minor consolation from last night that speaks well of John Lehman and Mark Miller: "If Lehman is declared the winner, Democrats would gain a one-seat majority in the Senate. Senator Mark Miller, the Senate Democratic Leader, sent out a news release early Wednesday morning, already declaring himself the Senate Majority Leader and congratulating Lehman on his victory." So, barring a "fixed" recount, like last year's crooked contest that put Republican David Prosser into the WI Supreme Court for another decade, the Wisconsin Senate is again in play. That COULD, along with the John Doe investigation that refuses to go away, thwart Scott Walker's cruel agenda. Still, contrast Van Wangaard's obstinacy in refusing to concede his state senate seat with Tom Barrett's premature surrender! It becomes clear as daylight Progressives and Democrats are being betrayed by MOST of the Dems we vote for. One thing you can say for Repubs - they FIGHT. Yes, they fight dirty, and they fight in opposition to their own best interests. But they KICK, they SCRATCH, they MAIM. They GOUGE out EYEBALLS, literally and symbolically speaking. I now believe, for the sake of self-defense, THAT should be OUR attitude on the left.It's time to seriously consider alternative, imaginative strategies that may seem overly unconventional and confrontational to some. http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/06/john-lehman-van-wanggard-wisconsin-recall-senate

If I were religious, which I'm not, I'd pray for Tom Barrett's triumph. Consider the alternative! Still, I've got my fingers crossed, though I'm not superstitious. I'm sending all my positive vibes toward the political redemption of our beleaguered state, though I'm not into Mystic Mumbo Jumbo. The Marquette University polling, commissioned by Right-Winger Charles Franklin, has Walker ahead by about 7 points, last I heard. But Professor Franklin is a notorious conservative, so consider the source. Other polls have the breakdown among Wisconsin's registered voters at 49%-49%, far too close to call. I'm not a touchy-feely sort, but I still passionately hope Barrett/Mitchell might prevail. I've done all I could, pragmatically speaking. I've made calls to nationwide radio talk shows, written letters to the editor, done postering, chalking, put up stickers. I already voted for the Dem slate, early. Good Gawd! Tom Barrett certainly deserves to win; he's run an admirable campaign this time around. Beat the pants off Scott Walker during both televised debates, IMHO. And wow, have we ever caught the attention - once again - of the Guardian of London! Let's hope that bodes well for our side! http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/04/tom-barrett-last-minute-momentum-beat-scott-walker?intcmp=239

Thick as a Brick. Of Lead.

Inspired by the Koch Brothers, Scott Walker, Mitt Romney and the Republican Party generally, I now realize we need to bring back leaded gasoline and paint. Also, let's send 30,000 US troops back to Iraq. First of all, the permanent damage done by lead ingestion (especially in children) is a bummer indeed, but hardly reason enough to forbid the magic of the Free Market from solving such a trifle on its own. Private Enterprise simply lacked enough time to develop an adequate substitute for the lead contained in those two consumer products. Damn government regulatory agencies always have to poke their interfering noses into what should be exclusively Capitalism's business. As for Iraq, the brilliant Rick Perry and kind-hearted Willard Romney think sending our boys and girls back to Mesopotamia is a good notion, and that's good enough for me! Bring it on!

Grin and Barrett!

Listened to Thursday's debate, folks? The previous debate? One thing is for sure - the admittedly imperfect Tom Barrett won both contests. In a civil and extremely educated tone, he simply demolished the state's most prominent underachiever, Scott Walker. I can't honestly say Walker was completely slow on the uptake, as far as his abilities would permit him. But his most prominent tactic was to employ redundancy, duplicity, and mendacity in typical GOP fashion. Example: By cutting Wisconsin's K-12 budget by $800,000,000, Walker gave schools and educators the "Tools" they need to succeed. After all, he savaged collective bargaining, a constitutionally-protected right public employees had for over 50 years. Yes, Walker did make public school teachers pay more for their retirement and health care, to the point where some are now in considerable financial distress. By contrast, the Badger Billionaire crowd received hundreds of millions in tax breaks, and our budget deficit is still just that, a budget deficit. Recall this monster! Scotty has attacked and demonized teachers, unions and the poor. I voted early - it's not likely, but just possible, there will be some Waukesha County-style Republican electoral fraud, right here in Dane County.