"This issue just provides the tea bag, anti-RTA, anti-Obama crowd with a reason to come out." - Brett Hulsey, Leftist county board supervisor.
Well, Brett, you make it so easy! Brett's photo includes his e-mail and web site. Give this arrogant ideologue a sharp taste of democracy. Tell him you do not intend to surrender your property rights or your liberties whenever anyone yells "Environment" in a crowded theater.
I could not say it better than "Madison Moderate" in the Capital Times on-line:
Good to know that our elected officials serious about debating facts, and are instead defending their programs with vulgar, crude insults. Once again the Dane County Board is lying through their teeth and the Cap Times repeats their lies as facts. They're going to try to shove another unpopular piece of legislation down our throats without letting the voters even know what's going on. - Madison Moderate. [The Capital Times: County shoreland plan touches off political firestorm]
Carol Schaeffer, as head of Smart Growth, County Waterbody Classification Project All Wet makes a good point:
The staff at Lakes and Watersheds is saying that if we do not do this project it will have an irreversible negative impact on water quality. They say it will keep the equivalent multiple railroad cars full of sediment out of lakes. However, when property owners at the Lakes and Watershed Commission hearings angrily demanded to know what was going on, they were told to settle down, this will only impact seven properties a year on average.
Really? That is going to do the trick? Seven properties a year?
Thanks for your service, Democrat-style
The Veterans Affairs Board fired Secretary John Scocos last week, blaming him for a host of financial and communications problems at the agency he had led since 2003. Board members voted 5-0 to name Ken Black as the next secretary. But many of the problems cited by the board in ousting Scocos happened while Scocos was serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army Reserve and Black was acting secretary.
... Either Ken Black was incompetent during the period he served as acting secretary, or he lied to Department of Justice investigators when he told them he was unaware of what happened," said Kevin Kavanaugh of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which advocates for veterans wounded in combat. "And now they make him the secretary?" [Associated Press: Critics question pick for new state vets secretary]
Again, let's cut to the chase: let the governor appoint this secretary as well as the DNR Secretary so we don't have these charades. These are Jim E. Doyle's appointees doing, belatedly, what they were appointed to do: get rid of a Republican holdover who, from all appearances, served his country honorably in both Iraq on active duty and as Secretary of Wisconsin Veterans Affairs.
Not a peep from the partisans at The Capital Times or the geldings at the Wisconsin State Journal editorial pages.
Fellow Travelers
Or Communism isn't dead, it's just molting. The late great Barry Goldwater always wanted to roll a hand grenade into the men's room at the Kremlin just to see who would come pouring out. So, what's say, let's pull the pin!
- Here is how the American Left continues to excuse the Castro Brothers' dictatorship on its 50th anniversary, as recorded by The Nation magazine:
But then there's the need, in speaking of the negative impact the Cuban Revolution has had on so many things, to speak also of all its achievements, how good it has been for so many other things. It's so inadequate to paint it as the blackest, the most terrible, the most murderous - for it isn't any of those things, not at all, though for far too many years it has always ended up doing harm. It's impossible to strip the Cuban Revolution of the reasons for its great popularity, its hard-won fame. ...
Brilliant? Guinness beer is "Brilliant."
There are touches of genius present throughout the work of the Cuban Revolution and in its very conception. The brilliant idea - to begin with - of defying the United States. - Republican-lite Bill Kraus yearns for the high socialism of Clement Atlee's drab post-war Britain on the Big Government blog. [Fighting Bob.com: Anarchy in the GOP]
- Havana Paul Soglin just now notices that Communism has failed and takes a stab at guessing how come why. Hey, Paul: how about "government control of the means of production." He wrongly concludes that capitalism is no better. [Waxing America: The Collapse of Communism.]
- John Nichols has his hand out - and into the public till for, what else, taxpayer-subsidized "journalism." After me, John.
The framers understood that the government must not simply assure that a free and independent press may exist; it must set policies and expend resources with an eye toward guaranteeing that an independent free press will exist. ... Similar subsidies - for instance, a massive increase in funding for public and community broadcasting outlets, which have never enjoyed the advantages bestowed by regulators upon commercial broadcasters - could foster the vibrant independent journalism of the twenty-first century. [The Nation: How to Save Journalism]
Now if someone would just save the taxpayer. BTW: was that Nichols with a bullhorn on Fish Hatchery Road when President Obama visited Wright Middle School a couple of weeks ago? How is that "journalism?"
Auspicious signs
The Public Policy Polling poll that shows Gov. Jim E. Doyle at 29 percent approval rating has more surprises. The poll shows Wisconsin disapproves of the government healthcare plan by a 52 percent to 37 percent margin and opposes the stimulus 55 percent to 28 percent. That disapproval extends even to the 608 telephone area code, which is dominated by Dane County. Lakeshore Laments has the details.
Platinum Subscriber Bonus Material
- If you want to see famous people painted with pancakes on their heads (and who does not?) visit Dan Lacey, Painter of Pancakes
- The Happy Gilmore golf shot - a hockey-style slap shot - has been ruled illegal by a Canadian jurist. About time!
- Here are the 20 best magazines in America. I get the Atlantic ... you'll never guess where Esquire (which I thought was passé) ranks. The list comes from something called Paste Magazine.
Today's Chuckle
I witnessed this when I worked in state government. (Thanks to cousin Johan of Golf Course fame.)
Company Memo #1
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 1, 2009
RE: Gala Christmas Party
I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols... feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 PM. Exchanges of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Patty
Company Memo # 2
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 2, 2009
RE: Gala Holiday Party
In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize thatHanukkah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on, we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians and to those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols will be sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.Happy now?Happy Holidays to you and your family, Patty
Company Memo #3
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 3, 2009
RE: Holiday Party
Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only", you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this?Somebody?And sorry, but forget about the gift exchange, no gifts are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and the executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy. REMEMBER: NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.
Company Memo #4
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All Employees
DATE: October 4, 2009
RE: Generic Holiday Party
What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet, and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms.Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each group will have their own table.Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men's table.To the person asking permission to cross dress, the Grill House asks that no cross-dressing be allowed, apparently because of concerns about confusion in the restrooms. Sorry.We will have booster seats for short people.Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet.I am sorry to report that we cannot control the amount of salt used in the food. The Grill House suggests that people with high blood pressure taste a bite first.There will be fresh "low sugar" fruits as dessert for diabetics, but the restaurant cannot supply "no sugar" desserts. Sorry!Did I miss anything?!?!? Patty
Company Memo # 5
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: All F*%^ing Employees
DATE: October 5, 2009
RE: The F*%^ing Holiday Party
I've had it with you vegetarian pricks!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your f*%^ing salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW! The rest of you f*%^ing weirdos can kiss my *ss. I hope you all have a rotten holiday! Drive drunk and die, The B*tch from H*ll!!!
Company Memo #6
FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director
DATE: October 6, 2008
TO: All Employees
RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party
I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery and I'll continue to forward your cards to her.In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.Happy Holidays! Joan
