Uppity Wisconsin

Those who support Progressive causes are in an odd position these days: we’re often in the majority on issues that matter; and we’re seriously talking about how to turn what, just a few years ago, was a wish list...into a “reality list”.

Staying in the majority, however, requires the assistance of centrist voters--and that means, from time to time, finding philosophical compromise with voters we’d like to keep “in the fold”.

In years past, the issue of the death penalty has created a considerable chasm between Progressives and centrists; with the one side concerned about the misapplication of capital punishment, and the other convinced that, for the most heinous of crimes, the only way to achieve a truly just outcome is for the guilty party to face the most severe of punishments.

What if we could bridge that gap?

In today’s discussion we propose to do exactly that: to create a death penalty process that only executes those who are truly guilty and excludes those who might not deserve to be put to death...in fact, those who might not be guilty of any crime at all.

How partisan can they get?

Now that they have taken control of the Wisconsin State Senate, those uncooperative Democrats won't pass Republican bills like the death penalty.

Darn those Democrats -- and those voters -- anyway!

Senate Repubs skip WisconsinCare rollout

Madison - There were almost 60 legislators from both parties -- or close to a majority of the 132-member Legislature -- grinning behind Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle on the Capitol steps today, as the governor announced details of the WisconsinCare proposal.

Who wasn't there? The 15 Senate Republicans, some of whom looked out from their second-floor Capitol offices instead of standing -- beaming --on Capitol steps for the cameras.

A spokesman for Senate Republicans said they weren't cut in on the negotiations that led to the WisconsinCare deal, and had not yet seen details of it.