Uppity Wisconsin
Making Wisconsin Progressive Again
DOJ Files Anti-Gay Marriage Brief
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 8:27am | mal contends
The Wisconsin Dept of Justice (DOJ) filed its response brief yesterday to a constitutional challenge to Wisconsin’s same-sex marriage ban approved in a 2006 statewide referendum composed of two questions being considered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a legal challenge posed by civil rights advocates.
The case, William C. McConkey v. J. B. Van Hollen, challenges the anti-gay marriage referendum on several constitutional grounds, arguing that the state’s resulting constitutional amendment should be overturned.
Constitutional Amendment Referendum
The language of the 2006 referendum reads:
The case, William C. McConkey v. J. B. Van Hollen, challenges the anti-gay marriage referendum on several constitutional grounds, arguing that the state’s resulting constitutional amendment should be overturned.
Constitutional Amendment Referendum
The language of the 2006 referendum reads:
Shall section 13 of article XIII of the constitution be created to provide that only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state and that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state?
Balz: National GOP Rancid, Good News for Dems - Echoed in Wisconsin
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 9:58pm | mal contends
On graphic display in the Wisconsin Assembly budget debate last week is the Republican demographic demise. GOP failings in Wisconsin echo those nationally.
Says Dan Balz today in his For Republicans, the Forces Aren't With Them in the Washington Post.
Says Dan Balz today in his For Republicans, the Forces Aren't With Them in the Washington Post.
The American Enterprise Institute and the Brookings Institution convened a stellar cast on Friday to review what has been learned since November. The panel included Robert Lang of Virginia Tech; Ruy Teixeira of the Center for American Progress; William Frey of the Brookings Institution; Bill Bishop, a Texas writer and author of ‘The Big Sort’; Scott Keeter of the Pew Research Center; and Ronald Brownstein of Atlantic Media.
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Tags: Civil Rights, bigotry, Bill Bishop, Dan Balz, Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Hate, intolerance, Jim Doyle, Pedro Colón, Pew Research Center, racism, Robert Lang, Ronald Brownstein, Ruy Teixeira, Scott Keeter, Tamara Grigsby, William Frey, wisconsin budget
Olson-Boies Give Civil Rights for Gays Hope
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 9:36am | mal contends
Update: Civil rights groups say Make Change, Not Lawsuits, explicitly discouraging a federal legal challenge. "The arguments in the briefs are not the only thing that influences the Court’s decisions. The climate of receptivity and momentum in the country on these issues matter as well. There is much we can and should do together to strengthen our hand before we put a federal marriage case before the justices," reads the question and answer online sheet.
This is a defensive, crouching strategy that argues before demanding civil rights for everyone, make sure its okay with the bigots first. Put another way, "This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism," as MLK reminded us on one very special day.
This is a defensive, crouching strategy that argues before demanding civil rights for everyone, make sure its okay with the bigots first. Put another way, "This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism," as MLK reminded us on one very special day.
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mal contends's blog | Add new comment | Tags: Civil Rights, bigotry, California, civil liberties, civil rights, David Boies, discrimination, gay marriage, Hate, judicial policymaking, Katami and Zarrillo v. Schwarzenegger, Lawrence v. Texas, Make Change Not Lawsuits statement, Perry, Stier, Theodore B. Olson
Mark Neumann for Gov. - Please Jesus, Yes!
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 1:45pm | mal contends
Jim Klauser is a very smart GOP operative advocating that Mark Neumann throw his hat into the ring against Jim Doyle in 2010.
Writes Klauser in his open letter in WisPolitics:
Writes Klauser in his open letter in WisPolitics:
Mark Neumann, a former Congressman who nearly defeated Russ Feingold [in 1998), is a potential candidate. Mark is a successful business man from Waukesha County (a growing county). He and his family are involved in choice and charter school reforms. He is involved in his community and church. While a Congressman, Mark worked with Speaker Newt Gingrich to develop a no tax increase alternative to Bill Clinton’s spend, spend, and spend. ... I have concluded that of the prospective candidates, Mark Neumann is best able to win and govern well. I encourage you to consider Mark Neumann for Governor.
Neo-NAZI Group Acts at Fond du Lac Gathering on Hispanics and Latinos
Fri, 01/09/2009 - 10:50am | mal contends
Update: Washington Post - Bad Economy May Fuel Hate Groups, Experts Warn
© by Michael Leon
A social diversity event held last night at the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Public Library entitled "¡Hola! Hispanic and Latino Experiences in Fond du Lac" was marred by a card left on the car windows of several participants by a neo-NAZI "Aryan Wear" group asking if the car-owners had "had enough diversity?".
The card is pictured above-left and was obtained by e-mail from Ken Hall, director of the Fond du Lac Public Library.
Hitting Wildmon-AFA's Bigotry
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:06am | mal contends
Folk Bum has a post displaying the American Family Association’s (AFA) promotion of a Christmas-lighted cross that appears precisely like the image of a burning cross.
And the AFA is drawing howls.
“The American Family Association--they of the our-morality-for-all bent--is offering a sweet new Xmas gift,” laughs Folk Bum.
"The American Family Association has really topped themselves," observes John Cole.
The AFA’s founder is of course one Donald Wildmon—a self-proclaimed decency advocate challenging Jews, gays, humanists and other assorted going-to-spend-eternity-in-damnation types by “focusing primarily on the influence of television and other media” that Wildmon fears promotes witchcraft, homosexuality and so on.
And the AFA is drawing howls.
“The American Family Association--they of the our-morality-for-all bent--is offering a sweet new Xmas gift,” laughs Folk Bum.
"The American Family Association has really topped themselves," observes John Cole.
The AFA’s founder is of course one Donald Wildmon—a self-proclaimed decency advocate challenging Jews, gays, humanists and other assorted going-to-spend-eternity-in-damnation types by “focusing primarily on the influence of television and other media” that Wildmon fears promotes witchcraft, homosexuality and so on.
The Republicans, Which Way Forward
Wed, 10/29/2008 - 9:26am | mal contends
[Writer’s Preface: We’re going to win but we assume nothing beyond the rapacious, corrupt nature of GOP political operatives exemplified by Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen determined to thwart the will of the American people. Van Hollen lost, by the way. GOTV baby, GOTV.]
"The Republicans: Half religious zealots wanting to control every breath every citizen takes. And half ego-anarchist, libertarian cowboys shrilling for no government."
- Tony Kushner, Angels in America (2004)
After next Tuesday's historical defeat, the GOP will do a lot of soul-searching and conclude the GOP needs to drill for more oil, make more enemies abroad, and for God's sake do away with once and for all a woman's right to choose. Deep thinkers, the GOP.
No matter the post-election machinations of the amoral political operatives, I saw Republican future and its name is: Sarah Palin.
We could have not pleaded for a better figurehead.
Anti-Catholic Nut Tom Reynolds' Guys to Be Revealed Next Week
Wed, 07/02/2008 - 8:47am | mal contends
Clean Sweep Wisconsin's foray into the state Assembly races is being fronted by former state senator Tom Reynolds (R-Outer Reaches).
Reynolds has created Clean Sweep Wisconsin's PAC and is recruiting numerous rightwing candidates to run in the Democratic primaries of Milwaukee state representatives.
Wonder if that means all Catholics and non-virgins will be swept away this election cycle.
The Wisconsin State Journal's Mark Pitsch politely describes Reynolds as "eccentric".
But with Reynolds, politeness obscures reality.
The Milwaukee Shepherd-Express' Lisa Kaiser leads her piece from June thusly:
Pressure Building on Lone Wisc Clinton-declared Superdelegate Officeholder
Wed, 04/30/2008 - 11:03am | mal contends
Update: John Nichols: A Baldwin shift to Obama could send crucial message
So, why is Wisconsin's most progressive elected official and superdelegate still declared, alone among elected state officeholders, for Hillary Clinton?
Good question for Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison).
What does it take from Clinton for Baldwin to jump ship?
U.S. Set to Deport Gay Iranian
Thu, 11/29/2007 - 9:38am | mal contends
Bush and his gay-hating pigs can always be counted on to if not lead, at least emulate, the worst of the world's bigotries.
from Doug Ireland at Z-Net:
President George W. Bush and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may not agree on much, but tragically they may find common ground about the disposability of Hassan Parhizkar's life.
Since November 7, a mild-mannered 40-year-old gay Iranian businessman from Rockville, Maryland has been sitting in jail in the Frederick County, Maryland Detention Center, housed with common criminals, in the living hell of limbo between the freedom he has known since he came to the United States as a young man 17 years ago and the certain persecution, imprisonment, or worse that will be his fate as a gay man if he is sent back to Iran.
A deportation order to send him back to Iran has been issued, and any day he could be put on a plane back to Tehran, where he was born.
"I am very afraid, and so very frustrated," Hassan Parhizkar told me in a truncated, collect telephone call from jail.
from Doug Ireland at Z-Net:
President George W. Bush and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may not agree on much, but tragically they may find common ground about the disposability of Hassan Parhizkar's life.
Since November 7, a mild-mannered 40-year-old gay Iranian businessman from Rockville, Maryland has been sitting in jail in the Frederick County, Maryland Detention Center, housed with common criminals, in the living hell of limbo between the freedom he has known since he came to the United States as a young man 17 years ago and the certain persecution, imprisonment, or worse that will be his fate as a gay man if he is sent back to Iran.
A deportation order to send him back to Iran has been issued, and any day he could be put on a plane back to Tehran, where he was born.
"I am very afraid, and so very frustrated," Hassan Parhizkar told me in a truncated, collect telephone call from jail.
Enraged Racists
Sun, 10/07/2007 - 7:47am | mal contends
Wrote a few posts at Daily Kos, Folkbum and MAL Contends about the racist Jim Broussard cutting down and stealing an American flag on someone's private property in Reno, Nevada, last week, while brandishing a military knife, and daring anyone to take the flag back.
Most of the hostile e-mail and comments spoke indignantly of the failure of "they (Mexicans)/them" to assimilate into our country, and misstating First Amendment doctrine and the rights of freedom generally. Below is an e-mail that is my personal favorite and the most revealing.
The e-mail still has me wondering if someone can actually be that dumb, and it sounds like something a couple of friends would say when they mock racists and other assorted ignoramuses:
Religious Right Figures Signing Pro-war Statement Identified by ADL as Assaulting Tolerance and Pluralism
Fri, 09/14/2007 - 12:00pm | mal contends
Madison, Wisconsin — Several major American religious right figures signing an anti-Iraqi withdrawal statement were previously identified by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as extremists assaulting tolerance and pluralism in America.
A group of 44 right-wing, extremist American leaders released a Declaration on Monday urging the continuation of American policy in Iraq and warning of catastrophic consequences if America withdrawals from Iraq.
Ann Coulter Compares Mexicans to Roaches
Sun, 06/10/2007 - 10:26am | mal contends
- via MAL Contends
X-off has a nice piece noting that Republicans have a ways to go to reach Latinos.
Here’s a piece of advice for Republicans: Don’t call them “roaches,” like the leading rightwing luminary Ann Coulter just did in Human Events.
mal contends's blog | Add new comment | Tags: Arts, bigotry, ignorance, Immigration, race baiting, racism
God To Dead Jerry Falwell; Go to Hell ... Now!!
Tue, 05/15/2007 - 3:04pm | mal contends
Jerry Falwell, one of the most despicable abusers of the teachings of Jesus and the earnest faith of religious Christians, a foul, mean-spirited power hungry Neanderthal who sought to set back civilization has been called to meet his maker. I have no doubt, he will join the other racists, bigots, homophobes, war mongers, greedy money-grubbing corporatists and holy-rolling religious hypocrites he supported, encouraged and empowered.
Falwell made his infamous, and perhaps signature statement after 9/11 on the 700 club, saying, "the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians," as well as liberal advocacy groups were to blame for the attacks, according to Fox news. He later made a weak, non-specific apology. This statement could well be the quote that he is and should be remembered by.