Uppity Wisconsin
Making Wisconsin Progressive Again
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.
mal contends's blog | 
Add new comment | 
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
Pedro Colón Wins in Rout
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 10:01am | GlobalGirl
Preying “upon children," bringing "ruin," "out of touch with the community (because) … he's a parent."
Such was the screeching heard from candidates Jose Guzman and Laura Manriquez in one Democratic primary in Milwaukee, a smearing of Wisconsin’s sole Latino member of the state legislature, Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee), representing the Eighth Assembly District.
The campaigns were one part trash bash and one part outlandish political theater with the satisfying conclusion that Guzman and Manriquez will go the way of Tom Reynolds and Clean Sweep Wisconsin.
I mean the levels of deceit employed would make Karl Rove blush.
Following Guzman and Manriquez in the primary, I expected them to accuse Colón of concocting the Ebola virus and being the manifestation of Satan alive and not well in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Such was the screeching heard from candidates Jose Guzman and Laura Manriquez in one Democratic primary in Milwaukee, a smearing of Wisconsin’s sole Latino member of the state legislature, Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee), representing the Eighth Assembly District.
The campaigns were one part trash bash and one part outlandish political theater with the satisfying conclusion that Guzman and Manriquez will go the way of Tom Reynolds and Clean Sweep Wisconsin.
I mean the levels of deceit employed would make Karl Rove blush.
Following Guzman and Manriquez in the primary, I expected them to accuse Colón of concocting the Ebola virus and being the manifestation of Satan alive and not well in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Journal-Sentinel Endorses Colón, Clean Sweep WI Looks to Go 0-6
Thu, 09/04/2008 - 5:19am | GlobalGirl
Pedro Colón received the endorsements of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the Milwaukee Shepherd Express.
The Journal-Sentineleditorial describes Colón as “engaged with the district,” “attentive” to his constituents, employing an “effective voice for Milwaukee,” and with Colón’s position on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee having achieved "respect in the Legislature to be in a position to deliver for Milwaukee.”
The Journal-Sentineleditorial describes Colón as “engaged with the district,” “attentive” to his constituents, employing an “effective voice for Milwaukee,” and with Colón’s position on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee having achieved "respect in the Legislature to be in a position to deliver for Milwaukee.”
The endorsement flatly contradicts the willy-nilly discourse of Robert Miranda, executive director of Esperanza Unida, and Laura Manriquez, president of Esperanza Unida, who tried to knock both of their opponents off the ballot in an unsuccessful effort to circumvent the ballot box, saying that only they were in touch with the district.
Say what you want about Clean Sweep Wisconsin, but at least they try to get elected by dedicating their energies to running in electoral campaigns, and not avoiding them.
Milwaukee Candidate Speaks Up, Hits Rep. for Law Defending Rape Victims
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 6:54am | mal contends
The phantom southside Milwaukee candidate for state assembly, José Guzmán, is at last revealing himself contending with his recruitment by the political operative, Tom Reynolds, the notorious former state senator known for his anti-Catholic views and often bizarre political behavior.
After weeks of silence, Guzmán is meeting criticism of his campaign by finally speaking to the press, and accusing one of his opponents, incumbent Democratic State Rep. Pedro Colón (Eighth Assembly District, Milwaukee), of being "anti-catholic" for his vote for the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims bill, signed into law by Gov. Doyle in March.
Guzmán criticized Colón for his vote, saying Colón voted for "anti-Catholic legislation ... against the people of the 8th Assembly District." [See Guzmán literature below.]
After weeks of silence, Guzmán is meeting criticism of his campaign by finally speaking to the press, and accusing one of his opponents, incumbent Democratic State Rep. Pedro Colón (Eighth Assembly District, Milwaukee), of being "anti-catholic" for his vote for the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims bill, signed into law by Gov. Doyle in March.
Guzmán criticized Colón for his vote, saying Colón voted for "anti-Catholic legislation ... against the people of the 8th Assembly District." [See Guzmán literature below.]
Progressive Dems Unifying, but Not in Milwaukee
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 4:26pm | GlobalGirl
Update: Robert Miranda, executive director of Esperanza Unida, reportedly is leaving soon for his sixth visit to Turkey. No word on how Laura Manriquez, president of Esperanza Unida, feels about the junkets.
This weekend sees the launching of the beginning of the end of the Bush-Cheney-Rove-McCain administration.
But those seeking unity in Wisconsin have to wait two more weeks: Until Sept. 9, Wisconsin primary day.
The most heavily covered Wisconsin Democratic primary race in on Milwaukee’s south side, in which a rightwing Jose Guzman and in-some-wing Laura Manriquez are challenging five-term progressive incumbent, Rep. Pedro Colón.
Manriquez (the board chair of Robert Miranda’s Esperanza Unida, a non-profit taken over by Miranda’s coup a few years back) is echoing the campaign message of Miranda, executive director of Esperanza Unida and editor of the Spanish Journal.
Now, in an unusual campaign charge: (that Colón doesn’t charge enough per diem), Manriquez is looking desperate.
But those seeking unity in Wisconsin have to wait two more weeks: Until Sept. 9, Wisconsin primary day.
The most heavily covered Wisconsin Democratic primary race in on Milwaukee’s south side, in which a rightwing Jose Guzman and in-some-wing Laura Manriquez are challenging five-term progressive incumbent, Rep. Pedro Colón.
Manriquez (the board chair of Robert Miranda’s Esperanza Unida, a non-profit taken over by Miranda’s coup a few years back) is echoing the campaign message of Miranda, executive director of Esperanza Unida and editor of the Spanish Journal.
Now, in an unusual campaign charge: (that Colón doesn’t charge enough per diem), Manriquez is looking desperate.
Call for a Retraction
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 6:14pm | GlobalGirl
I just want to say that I am truly disappointed in the Capital Times. It is supposed to stand up for the truth and be thorough in its investigations. When the format of the Capital Times was changing, I took Dave Zweifel and John Nichols at their words that the quality of the journalism would not suffer as they changed media.
Why then did they print an editorial that was so shabbily researched? I am referring to the editorial column “Van Hollen should act fast on petition fraud case” (July 25).
Manriquez’ Bad Faith Betrays Hispanics in 8th Assembly District
Wed, 07/16/2008 - 2:44pm | GlobalGirl
- Related Update: Esperanza Unida workers say they haven’t been paid for weeks: "While the executive director of Esperanza Unida was traveling in Turkey, some 11 workers at the south side job training agency signed a petition saying they had not been paid in four weeks and that some checks had bounced. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)."
When I received a ring from a friend calling from the Government Accountability Board (GAB) informing me that the GAB had unanimously ruled against Laura Manriquez’ effort to knock both of her Democratic primary opponents, Jose Guzman and state Rep. Pedro Colón, off the ballot for a Milwaukee assembly seat, I felt true schadenfreude.Milwaukee City Atty Langley Blasted in Costly Case
Wed, 02/13/2008 - 11:33am | mal contends
A personal gripe I have of coverage of legal and judicial topics is the lack of research.
Few appear to read the briefs, focusing on judicial doctrine, without getting an editorial rebuke for writing “legalese,” thought to alienate a chunk of readership.
Gadfly Michael Horne has a well-researched piece out topical to Milwaukee’s race for City Attorney.
Horne digged out a case that blew up in City Atty Grant Langley's face, awarding a bank $400,000, paid by Milwaukee taxpayers.
Besides the $400,000 judgement, the judge, Ralph Adam Fine, denounced the City Atty's office under Langley's administration, for calling the bank’s legal position: "Hogwash," "Ludicrous," "Crazy," and "Obstructionistanarchist".
Writes Judge Fine:
Colon: Feds Should Cough Up Money for Corrupt Prosecution by US Atty
Thu, 01/31/2008 - 4:27pm | mal contends
Why should Wisconsin citizens get stuck with the $200,000 tab paid to an innocent Wisconsin woman who was the victim of a political prosecution by the United States Dept of Justice?
State Representative Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee) says the federal government should foot the bill, not Wisconsin taxpayers.
United States Attorney Stephen Biskupic was excoriated by the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit last year in an extraordinary decision that freed the innocent state worker, Georgia Thompson.
From the Associated Press:
MADISON,Wis. (AP) -- A lawmaker wants the state to force the federal government to reimburse an employee who was wrongly convicted in federal court.
Milwaukee Activist Pedro Colón Seeks Solutions
Thu, 01/17/2008 - 7:53pm | mal contends
Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.
~Edmund Burke
The race for Milwaukee City Attorney is off and running.
Longtime City Attorney Grant Langley versus State Representative Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) in what promises to be a spirited race for a heretofore obscure office.
Colón is out to change the position, with an activist’s approach.
Colón has made some enemies and stepped on some toes as an activist attorney and state representative, but he brings a broad coalition in his campaign for the April 1 election.
As has been widely noted, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, District Attorney John Chisholm, the incoming president of the Milwaukee Bar Association and the Wisconsin Trial Lawyers Association and almost all of Milwaukee’s legislative delegation have endorsed Colón’s hard-line approach to flushing out destructive policy, and becoming part of the solution in addressing city-wide problems.
As Greg J. Borowski of the Journal Sentinel wrote in a column from December.
~Edmund Burke
The race for Milwaukee City Attorney is off and running.
Longtime City Attorney Grant Langley versus State Representative Pedro Colón (D-Milwaukee) in what promises to be a spirited race for a heretofore obscure office.
Colón is out to change the position, with an activist’s approach.
Colón has made some enemies and stepped on some toes as an activist attorney and state representative, but he brings a broad coalition in his campaign for the April 1 election.
As has been widely noted, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, District Attorney John Chisholm, the incoming president of the Milwaukee Bar Association and the Wisconsin Trial Lawyers Association and almost all of Milwaukee’s legislative delegation have endorsed Colón’s hard-line approach to flushing out destructive policy, and becoming part of the solution in addressing city-wide problems.
As Greg J. Borowski of the Journal Sentinel wrote in a column from December.