Uppity Wisconsin - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

TNR's Kirchick Vindicated for Revealing Ron Paul's Racist Past

mal contends — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:47:37 +0000

James Kirchick who wrote a piece in The New Republic in January knocking down the former candidate for president, Rep. Ron Paul, as a bigoted nutbag has been vindicated.

Steven Walters in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reveals today that "(f)ormer Republican presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas will keynote Saturday's session of the 50th anniversary of the Appleton-based John Birch Society."

The John Birch Society, dating back to the 1950s, is infamous for its conspiracy-minded, anti-Semitic, Joe McCarthy-supporting whacks.

Writes Kirchick in the January 8, 2008 The New Republic on Paul:

Finding ... (Ron Paul's) pre-1999 newsletters was no easy task, but I was able to track many of them down at the libraries of the University of Kansas and the Wisconsin Historical Society. ... (Ron Paul's) The Freedom Report's online archives only go back to 1999, but I was curious to see older editions of Paul's newsletters, in part because of a controversy dating to 1996, when Charles 'Lefty' Morris, a Democrat running against Paul for a House seat, released excerpts stating that "opinion polls consistently show only about 5% of blacks have sensible political opinions," that 'if you have ever been robbed by a black teen-aged male, you know how unbelievably fleet-footed they can be,' and that black representative Barbara Jordan is 'the archetypical half-educated victimologist' whose 'race and sex protect her from criticism.'

Journal-Sentinel Endorses Colón, Clean Sweep WI Looks to Go 0-6

GlobalGirl — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:19:58 +0000

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 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.

The Milwaukee Shepherd Express has blasted for months the “… extreme right-wing candidates running as Democrats in the Sept. 9 primary,” referring to Tom Reynolds anti-Catholic Clean Sweep Wisconsin.

The Shepherd Express writes that “(t)he real Democrats who have been targeted by (Tom) Reynolds … deserve the Democratic primary voters’ support because they support the Democratic Party’s ideals.”

Tom Reynolds' Clean Sweep Wisconsin looks to be shut out in all its six races, and all Reynolds achieved was an investigation by the General Accountability Board for a frivolous challenge to a Milwaukee legislator's nomination papers.

And Esperanza Unida looks to go 0-2 in knocking opponents off the ballot, and 0-1 at the ballot box. Well, at least Robert Miranda has seen his share of Turkey, even though his workers don't get paid and Manriquez claims that she doesn't know anything about that.

Wisconsin Says Wrong Direction

mal contends — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:50:04 +0000

Wisconsin is saying we're heading in the wrong direction, and they're not talking about Brett Favre ['we'll always have Green Bay'].

A record-low seventeen percent of Wisconsin voters think the country is going in the right direction, according a new poll conducted by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, a right-leaning public policy think tank.

And yet, everyone will note, Obama leads McCain by only 44% to 38% among likely voters in the same poll.

So what? For one thing, the polls are generating much angst among those terrified that McSame will win in November.

But as a writer at MyDD scoffs, 'We're Doooooooooooooooomed!'

The point is well-taken

Does anyone know when in the last 48 years (arguably the modern era) has a non-incumbent presidential nominee of any party ever been ahead by, say, eight points in early August polling?

I can't recall any time, maybe going back to Ike in '52? If anyone has any data, please post it.

This can't close-the-deal crap pushed by Will, Novak (hope his health improves), and others is bullshit.

The corporate talking heads are pushing the 'horserace' for their corporate masters to sell air time; and the race, such as it is, sees McCain way out of his league. But the corporate broadcast media will not say that.

As Alan Abramowitz, Thomas E. Mann, and Larry J. Sabato write:

... virtually all of the evidence that we have reviewed--historical patterns, structural features of this election cycle, and national and state polls conducted over the last several months--point to a comfortable Obama/Democratic party victory in November. Trumpeting this race as a toss-up, almost certain to produce another nail-biter finish, distorts the evidence and does a disservice to readers and viewers who rely upon such punditry.

Esperanza Unida's shafting of their workers goes on and on

GlobalGirl — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:20:21 +0000

How about no more air-trips to Turkey for the Esperanza Unita's executive director, Robert Miranda, until Esperanza Unita pays their workers?

From today's MJS: Esperanza Unida's payroll problems continue under Miranda's administration:

Mark Freund, a former welding instructor and manager at Esperanza Unida, said he wasn’t in a position not to get paid, or to get paid late.

After repeated delays, he complained to the state Department of Workforce Development when his paycheck was 19 days late. After finally getting his check July 21, he said, he agreed to be laid off. But pay problems continue at the south side job training agency, where remaining workers still don’t get their checks on time. ... Maria Franco, hired a year ago as fund development administrator, said Esperanza owed her $1,000 in back pay, and $500 in vacation pay for about a month. Franco, who has worked for other Latino nonprofits, said she agreed June 27 to go on layoff, but returned the next week to finish her work. She said she was handed a three-day suspension for insubordination and escorted out. Later she received written notice from executive director Robert Miranda that she had been fired. ...“I don’t talk about disgruntled workers or their allegations. It’s a personnel matter,” he said Wednesday.

Miranda did confirm that staff members were not paid on schedule last week.

Maybe if Miranda, and his attorney, and his Board Chair, were not spending so much time disparaging progressives in Esperanza Unida's frenzied quest for electoral office, they would not be screwing over their workers so badly.

Anti-Catholic Man's First Salvo at Assembly Dems

mal contends — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:41:25 +0000

The first candidates for Tom Reynolds' (R-Outer Reaches) Clean Sweep Wisconsin's project to run some 12 candidates against Milwuakee-area Democratic incumbents in the Democratic primary are now public.

The Reynolds' folks are: Phil Landowski (running against state Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee)) and Josh Hoisington (running against Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis), West Allis being Reynolds' home turf), reports Daniel Bice in yesterday's Journal-Sentinel.

Reynolds, almost universally blasted during his tenure in the state senate (see Waxing America's profile on Reynolds from 2005 for Reynolds' weird anti-Catholic cavorting and the Milwaukee Shepherd-Express piece on Reynolds), has reportedly convinced several candidates to run against incumbent Assembly Democrats for reasons not entirely clear.

Bice notes, "State Republican Party officials emphasized last week that they are not affiliated with Clean Sweep and won’t be giving it any help."

Bice does not offer auspicious press for Reynolds' people. Of Landowski, Bice profiles in part:

Landowski is a graduate of Bob Jones University, a fundamentalist Christian school that barred interracial dating as recently as 2000 and has been accused of being anti-Catholic. Landowski said he opposed the ban as a student and isn’t sure if he would send his children to Bob Jones.
But his alma mater is the least of the first-time candidate’s concerns.
Landowski was busted in ’99 for carrying a concealed weapon, a charge that was later reduced to a civil violation and fine.

The status of Reynolds' purported targets in his ambitious project are listed below:

Tony Staskunas (D-16) - Reynolds man, Hoisington, has him in his sights
Pedro Colón (D-8) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.
David Cullen (D-13) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.
Jason Fields, (D-11) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.
Tamara Grigsby, (D-18) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.

Frederick Kessler, (D-12) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.
Jon Richards, (D-19) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.
Christine Sinicki, (D-20) - Reynolds man, Landowski, has her in his sights
Barbara Toles, (D-17) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.

Sheldon Wasserman, (D-22) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.
Annette Williams, (D-10) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.
Leon Young, (D-16) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.
Josh Zepnick, (D-9) - Awaiting the Reynolds ax.

Tuesday, July 8, is the filing date for Assembly candidates. Will keep you posted.

Check out the Journal-Sentinel for more info.

Supreme Court Piece Gets Revealing Angry Response from Bigot

mal contends — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:33:22 +0000

The following text (in two e-mails) below was received from a blog reader, commenting on a brief analysis (SC Decision Striking Down Gun Control Is Fine with This Progressive) on the Supreme Court decision, District of Columbia v. Heller (07-290), that was picked up in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Sunday.

Well, let's hope this guy doesn't own a gun.

The ad hominem attempt (below among many) to insult by raising the possibility of my being a "fag" merits a reply: Being gay is okay. As is working for the people residing in "Milwaukee's ghetto population".

Thanks for reading.

But perhaps, this man ought to consider a change of vocation, like training pit bulls or reviving the KKK as a bulwark against "Milwaukee's ghetto population" and its "fag" sympathizers. I bet that would pay well.

Your (sic) an idiot, you rip the US Supreme Court because it has a conservative bent. You liberal cut and run coward cockroaches are the ones that are the most partisan, corrupt losers of our day. You whine when conservatives expect YOU to work rather to live off government handouts living out of mommy and daddy's basement. President Bushes (sic) greatest legacy, will be Roberts and Alito, which will alter correctly and fix the liberal blunders of past courts. Now if we can only get rid of Stevens and Ginsburg. McCain will do that in the next 4 years. Before you cry out in rage, saying Barrack Hussein Nobama will win! LMAO 20-30% of democrats like my mother and father WILL NOT vote for Hussein and WILL vote for McCain. Older Americans will vote for the war hero over the admitted crack smoking Muslim Manchurian candidate put up by the liberals. It will be 58-42% win for McCain, as Obama will not win 1 southern state and will lose Ohio and Pennsylvania badly. The liberals will cry out in disbelief, claiming fraud and other sore loser talking points. LMAO, and for you fat fuck liberal cockroach, BUSH and CHENEY will never be impeached much less removed as they have done nothing wrong. In fact moonbat liberal loser, lets take a vote now. In the senate you wouldn't get 15 votes to impeach and in the House you would not get even a 100 votes. Get ready for at least 8 more years of republicans in the White House, GUARANTEED!!!!!!! I will put up my salary which I am pretty sure is 5-6 times what yours is to make the bet?

PS (sic) Calling yourself "progressive" is a way to hide your self loathing, self realization that being a liberal is wrong and self hating. GET a JOB become Republican, start liking yourself again, or commit suicide, either way, your loss would be no big deal

Don't read your blog, did you cry like a whiny fag bitch, when Gableman kicked "Loophole" Louie Butlers (sic) ass in that last election? Giving Wisconsin a conservative edge, negating our dumgass (sic) loser Govenor (sic). By the way, outside the Peoples (sic) Republic of Madison, and Milwaukee's ghetto population, this state is predominately a conservative state.

Obama's Reaching White Wisc Men, Hillary Attacks

mal contends — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:35:14 +0000

Much of what one hears in campaigns is anecdotal.

After hearing something over and over, a pattern emerges. Such is Obama’s appeal to the white male demographic, especially here in Wisconsin.

A source said that two male “red necks” listened to Obama at a Janesville GM plant on Wednesday, and walked away vowing to vote for him. This cross-over appeal looks to deliver a victory to Obama here on Tuesday.

Should that victory be something near 10 points, the talk of a Clinton campaign near death will amplify across the nation.

"If Obama is able to win by double digits, a significant win, it could be a very serious blow to her chances in other states," Feingold said in an interview. "If she keeps it close or by some chance wins, it could be a platform for another revival and be a real boost." (Craig Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Hillary Attacks

Now Hillary, watching a speeding Obama blow by her in Wisconsin, is on the attack, running attack ad after attack ad.

The latest ad claims Obama said he "might raise the retirement age and cut benefits" of Social Security. It's a lie.

Hillary's negative tone feeds the impression of a self-serving, ethically lapsed professional politician.

Said Gov. Jim Doyle: "The only campaign she has going on in Wisconsin is negative TV ads." (Craig Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Voters going to the polls Tuesday may have the pleasure of sending Hillary and her negativity back to where it came from.

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Do Nothing

mal contends — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:12:05 +0000

Faced with the prospect of answering to Milwaukee citizens, those running for city-wide office should be offering creative and proactive ideas to address critical City issues.

Forget your turf wars, and the politicians’ it’s-not-my-job excuses, get off your ass and do something. Right?

Make coalitions with city-wide officials, make inaction a dirty word. Do something to be part of the solution.

At least all agree with that, right? Wrong.

For stating: "The city attorney stood on the sidelines while the federal government was forced to clean up the Milwaukee City Council … We can unite the city by fighting crime, protecting families and standing up to public corruption," state Rep Pedro Colón, the Democratic state legislator running for city attorney in Milwaukee, gets blasted by Mike Nichols of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel today, among other enemies of an engaged City Atty.

Nichols calls Colon’s get-off-your-ass-and-do-something approach (that's my description) mere “self-aggrandizing.”

Sneers Nichols, “After that, I guess, he (Colon) will leap tall buildings in a single bound, eliminate murder in all major U.S. cities and then put away O.J. once and for all.”

Why the ridicule? What the hell is wrong with calling for uniting the City and clarifying existing policy to focus attention on real problems that real people have encountered.

From his comfortable perch, Nichols wants candidates for this city-wide office to tamper down hopes of what the city attorney can contribute, and not try to unravel issues that citizens of Milwaukee recognize as serious concerns.

Those suggesting otherwise certainly ought not to be the object of mocking.

One hitch with the Nichols’ do-nothing-and-ridicule-anyone-who-says-otherwise mandate; it’s been tried and it doesn’t work out so well.

It’s likely that Nichols’ proposed it’s-not-my-job, let-someone-else-take-care-of-it approach to addressing serious issues will fail miserably at the ballot box, as it should.

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