Still No Chaos, America?

Well, Donald Trump has been President for almost two whole years. But, don't worry, according to Trump, everything's fine, and there is no chaos in DC. At least that's what he's said previously. Let's take a new look, shall we?

Economically, many businesses are struggling because of his seemingly random tariffs on US trading partners. Those companies that do make money are often putting their profits into stock buybacks to inflate their company's worth and reward their stockholders--not plowing their money back into their businesses or into rewarding their workers. Many workers have not seen decreased taxes or raised wages. Retirement savings of Americans have drastically reversed through rash economic policies enacted by the White House. The deficit, meanwhile, has ballooned to nearly $22 trillion.

The US Government is currently in partial shutdown. Trump's Cabinet staff members come and go as though the White House is hosting an Open House mixer. Advisors to Trump are often not the(somewhat)  trained people originally chosen for that role (many dogged by their own ethics investigations), but instead are more often conservative media talking heads and vociferous fringe elements from the populace and the GOP. Trump has continually villainized law enforcement, legislators,  and the judiciary of the country.

And you'd have to think that's reduced our country's standing in the world. Trump's been tagged as publicly making more than 7500 lies/exaggerations/misstatements in just his first 700 days in office--far less than half the country believes his whoppers anymore (from the Washington Post). Allies privately discuss the instability of the US now, instead of that of Russia. Trump's Defense Secretary Mattis resigned because he has no faith in the leadership or values of the President of the United States (let that sink in for a moment).

And, unbelievably, new lies from Trump and his associates come out virtually every week regarding covered-up connections with Russia and Russian businesses. Even more unbelievably, Trump's moves, such as withdrawing US troops from Syria, seem to benefit Russia, as well.

To me, that's chaos. Wouldn't you agree?

To Trump, though, I guess it's just another day at the office.

Wisconsin's (GOP) shame

Shame.

 Wisconsin's GOP legislature just voted to scale back the incoming Democratic Governor's power, reduce early voting, possibly diminish open records, and provide GOP-legislative oversight for what had been Governor-led agencies. Despite the fact the GOP received many fewer votes than the Dems in the midterm elections, and that all state-wide offices were flipped from Rep to Dem. Even despite the fact the severely (and court-challenged) gerrymandering of legislative districts and voting limitations already put in place by the WI GOP tied the hands of the Dems.

Wisconsin's GOP has left a stain on this building.

And the WI GOP did it at 4 AM in an all-night, lame-duck, so-named "extraordinary session" so their GOP could keep their control over Wisconsin before their fuhrer, Scott Walker leaves office.

What really makes this extraordinary (which is what an extra session is really called), is they did it knowing the state had voted for Tony Evers. They hadn't suggested the changes before Evers was elected. If it was such an egregious situation, their GOP-controlled legislature surely would have done it before the election, right?

And now it goes to Walker's desk. Walker famously once promised to sign legislation that prohibited the Legislature from voting after 10 PM or before 9 AM.

"I have two teenagers and I tell them that nothing good happens after midnight. That's even more true in politics," he said in a statement. "The people of Wisconsin deserve to know what their elected leaders are voting on." 

And he's gonna sign it.

It's just another morally-bankrupt and ethically corrupt action, and well, it's just plain wrong, on the part of the state GOP. 

And it's shameful.

This morning's story from jsonline.

What's that smell? Oh, WI's GOP

Something stinks in Madison. And I'm pretty sure I know which side of the aisle it's coming from.

It's not enough that Wisconsin's GOP so severely gerrymandered districts that the matter came before the Supreme Court.

From 2011, by the brilliant Phil Hands (WI State Journal)

It's not enough that the state GOP's restrictive voter ID laws likely suppress the voting of those that are elderly, minorities, or students--those that likely vote Democratic--so much so that a one-time member even bragged to local media that the laws would make it harder for Democrats to win.

In recent days, the Wisconsin GOP has even blatantly threatened to limit the powers of the duly-elected-by-the-people-of Wisconsin governor, Tony Evers (despite the GOP voter suppression techniques). The disingenuous and insulting statement from Assembly speaker Robin Vos (retrieved today from jsonline, Nov. 8, 2018): "If there are areas where we could look and say, 'Geez — have we made mistakes where we granted too much power to the executive,' I'd be open to taking a look to say what can we do to change that to try to re-balance it," Vos told reporters.

Yet another sleazy, underhanded policy move by Wisconsin's GOP.

And it doesn't end there. In an effort to uphold their ever-slipping death grip upon state politics, Walker and his pals are discussing moving the 2020 Wisconsin presidential primary --at likely a cost of millions of dollars--away from the date of the Wisconsin Supreme Court vote because the GOP anticipates more Dems will show up on the primary voting day, lessening their chance of keeping their conservative pick in this supposedly non-partisan post.

So, what's left for the Wisconsin GOP to do to continue to try to ensure their continued domination?

If there is something, don't worry, Wisconsin's GOP will give it a shot.

And, wow, that stinks.

Doesn't it?

Walking Papers for Walker

Scott Walker is gone.

And none too soon.

Actually, about eight years too late.

Scott Walker's lies and deception were the genesis for this blog, to be honest.

Walker testifies to Congress he lied about

 his union-busting plans (2011)

In the meantime, true, there have been tax cuts (which studies have found did more harm than good), and lowered unemployment (which has traditionally trended lower than the US rate), but the cost has been high in other ways, too, for our state.

Environmentally, Walker and his forces began dismantling the incredible richness of our state's natural resources--by doing everything from prohibiting mentions of climate change to leading the DNR to alter conservation policies to favor corporate interests (the latest example from The Political Environment here).

Fiscally, Walker pushed policies that moved money from public to private education, inhibited much-needed infrastructure throughout the state, stopped the state from receiving federal funds to supplement Obamacare. His giveaways to major corporations (yes, including Foxconn) contained massive monies and concessions.

Morally, Walker and his forces reneged on an already completed deal for high-speed rail when he took office (which cost the state tens of millions of dollars and, in my opinion, a chance to move into the 21st Century), demonized public workers as "fat cats" living off the state (incorporating policies that will decimate public education--which I suspect was his plan all along), and never stood up to the hatred spewing from his conservative leader, Donald Trump.

So, it's about time that Walker's gone.

And good riddance for our wonderful state.

Into the Abyss...

Results of the midterms--in which there came no "blue wave"--are not merely disappointing. The results are not merely sad.

The results are terrifying.

With the success Republicans had nationally--especially those candidates that tied themselves closely to Trump-- they show that my fellow countrymen care more about fear than hope. They care more about selfish interests than compassion. They care more about a few extra dollars in their 401K than they care about honesty and decency.

The results embolden racists and misogynists and media-haters. They promote policies to continue destroying the environment and dismantling public education. These results ensure the continuation of the, yes, deplorable factor--including those evil trolls, including Republican officials and a President that still peddle (and believe) absurd and offensive conspiracy theories ranging from millions of illegal voters to Obama not being born in the US to Russia not interfering in the election to Democrats involved in massive pedophilia rings to the "red flags" of supposed Democrats setting up pipe bomb deliveries or the shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue.

These results show our country's horribly dark side. We are travelling into an abyss.
Hopefully, we can come back up and out after the vileness of Donald Trump has run its course.

And if we don't, as a country, end up emerging from this terrible abyss, it will not be merely terrifying.

It will mean that the nightmare for our country--and for humanity--is just beginning.

May God have mercy on us.

Vote compassion, WI: Vote for Baldwin and Evers

With the midterms coming this Tuesday, I have one of the easiest posts I've written in a long time.
Wisconsinites should cast their votes for U.S. Senate incumbent Tammy Baldwin and Governor candidate State Supt. of Education Tony Evers.

The Baldwin choice is a no-brainer.

Baldwin for Senate is the much better choice

Her opponent, WI State State Senator Leah Vukmir, is cut wholly from the cloth of her ALEC overlords, a group she chaired, which pushes private business interests--everything from moving public dollars to private schools, to promoting restrictive voter ID laws, to protecting private insurance interests from having to cover things such as pre-existing conditions--above all else.

In short, ALEC opposes everything that works toward a more compassionate and grander society.

And she isn't even honest about her well-chronicled intentions (Politifact includes only one lone Vukmir statement that tops "Half-True").

A constantly-run Vukmir ad touts her desire that she would rather "fall in front of a truck" instead of touching pre-existing conditions, despite supporting plans that would likely put many of those with pre-existing conditions at high risk of losing their coverage.

Vukmir says the elderly will

actually be thrown off a cliff.

Side note (which I think is incredible fearmongering, but also kind of hilarious, as well): Vukmir's ad also says that Baldwin's plan of "Medicare-for-all" would remove protections for seniors (actually, it would replace current Medicare coverage with more such protections) and "literally throws Granny off the cliff!" Literally? Somehow I don't really think that if Medicare-for-all ever passes, that squads will be dispatched to round up senior citizens and hurl them off cliffs. But we'll just have to wait and see, I guess...

And Vukmir is a big supporter of Donald Trump. She overlooks his numerous personal and political flaws as long as the agenda is passed. On the day the pipe bomber targeted Trump's named enemies including Hillary Clinton--the day Trump "pleaded" for civility--she smiled and laughed at the Mosinee, WI, Trump rally when the minions were chanting  about Clinton, "Lock her up."

And those will spell Vukmir's epitaph: ALEC, lies, and cozying-up to Trump.

We have enough representatives like that already.

Speaking of which, the WI Governor's race is more the same. I've not been an ardent Evers supporter (although I do think he's done a good job as state education supt.), but I simply can't abide Walker. To be honest, I think Act 10 was a short-sighted mistake (and has affected the teaching profession and my personal life tremendously). Walker, in a desperate mode, has now touted education increases (despite his defunding of public education for many years), his new plan to improve juvenile detention facility horrors (despite the fact it was his plan to consolidate and, consequently, increase such atrocities), and his support for continuing coverage of pre-existing conditions (contrary to his direction to his Attorney General to sue the federal government to help eliminate them)--not to mention his gutting environmental regulations, etc., to appease his corporate friends.

Tony Evers

Walker's new-found (and incredibly transparent) humanitarian streak should only be believed until he is elected, when he will turn again into the person he truly is, and cater to the people he truly represents.

Oh, yeah, and Walker is also one of the national GOP figures to not decry any of Trump's severe political and moral shortcomings because Walker's agenda, too, is getting passed.

Trump and his mini-me

So, Baldwin and Evers.

It's time to make sure honesty and civility--and compassion and caring--are back in this wonderful state's political offices.

Imagine How to Ruin an Organization

Imagine pouring all your energy and effort into your job. You leave exhausted everyday, still having work you take with you to finish at home. And it's agreed by superiors and stakeholders alike that you do an "amazing" job.

Now imagine never getting a raise for that performance. Ever. The system doesn't allow for it. Instead, you're required to take some of your effort and energy away from your primary job to do extra work to even be considered for a raise. Year after year. If you accumulate evidence as to the amount of extra work you perform, a group decides, then, exactly how much, if any, you should get for the extra work you do. All the while, health care costs eat up more of your wages every year, and annual inflation further erodes your salary.

Would you imagine that sounds like a profession you'd want to be in? Actually, could you even imagine a job that would do that to its employees?

Doing an "amazing" job is no longer enough (photo from teach.com)

That's exactly the scenario playing out in some of our state's school districts since Scott Walker stripped education funding, and further stripped the possibility of districts working as a team with their employees and their representative unions, when he and the Wisconsin GOP legislature enacted Act 10 in 2011.

And, quite frankly, it's going to catch up with Wisconsin's education system.

Young teachers will burn out more quickly, veteran teachers (like me) will continue to work with the insult and indignation knowing the "amazing" job they do will never bring any more money into their households.

To me, that doesn't seem like a terrifically sustainable model for success.

Some readers here, I'm sure, will say to veteran teachers in this situation, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." But we still love teaching. And we're still good at it. We understand the system has changed from the equitable system in which we started our teaching, but the loss of that experience, and continuity, and the comfort of someone doing an "amazing" job, is incalculable.

And the next generation of dynamic teachers won't have the energy or the will, I'm guessing, to continue to fill those tremendous voids. I see it already in the stress levels of my seriously amazing colleagues.

The state is already providing alternative paths into teaching, providing people without the education or studied pedagogy the opportunity to be entrusted with educating our youth.

I mean, as much as some people might think it is, it isn't babysitting.

And, then what?

Let's just say, it doesn't seem like a great thing to imagine.

Trump, Vile and Evil?

I am sitting here waiting to hear the official US take of the bombs sent to people Trump has basically called enemies.

What will Trump say about the vile and evil terroristic efforts against former presidents and American citizens and news operations?

So far, all he had said officially was a retweet of his VP's, adding his own very heart-felt and inspiring message: I agree wholeheartedly.

Image from CNN

Wait--nothing yet...

Oh, here's MELANIA, instead. She praises her husband. She talks about her "Be Best" program (which ironically supposedly calls out bullies--unless she's married to them).

Then comes her husband.

He makes a joke about his wife that English is just one of her many languages.

He does not mention ANY of the persons targeted--including former presidents, for goodness sake. He does NOT take any responsibility for the violence he's condoned before in his comments or at his rallies. . He does not mention his proclamations that the media (including one of the targets, CNN) are enemies of the people.  He DOES NOT mention the word terrorism (that I heard).

Instead he says political violence has no place in the US. He says he is (and this is a DIRECT quote), that he is "angry, upset, unhappy" at the events that transpired and it will be investigated.

Um, then he's done. About three minutes of comfort and direction for a confused and terrorized nation.

Then it's on to opioids.

Trump does NOT say to his followers, "DON'T DO THIS!" He does NOT say that his media/enemies of the people comments are hyperbole. He does NOT say it abhors him.

Instead, it's just another dog whistle, more red meat for his crazed followers (many of whom already claim Dems did it to make the GOP look bad--like the immigrant caravan, or the Puerto Rico hurricane death tolls).

It's another call to those vile and evil Charlottesville faithful--the ones that marched to promote white supremacy (good people on both sides).

It's a call to the vile and  evil racism inherent in Trump's comments decrying African-Americans peacefully protesting in the NFL.

It's Trump's self-proclamation that he's a "nationalist," when he seems to know, but then thoroughly denies he's aware of that word's vile and evil connotations (despite EVERYONE in the country knowing those vile and evil connotations).

That's because he's a vile and evil man.

I mean, I'd really like to know, what other explanation is there?


NOTE: From the earlier post, I removed the descriptor of Trump's followers as "vile and evil." That would be unfair to many. I merely used it to highlight those that really are crazed (such as those that subscribe to the divisiveness of certain internet sites and beliefs).

Enemy of the People

Trump calls the media the enemy of the people.
Amazingly--and terrifyingly so--his minions believe him.

They believe his lies about "fake news," and they chuckle at his "jokes" about GOPers body-slamming reporters, or nod in affirmation about his dismissiveness with members of the press during a press conference (i.e., calling on "Mr. Kurd"). They silently cheer when certain news outlets are denied access to Presidential forums, they laugh when he mocks a journalist with disabilities, they jeer--actually jeer--at the journalists present when Trump spews his vile lies about the media at his rallies.
And now Trump says the explanation of the brutal murder of a journalist, likely at the hand of Saudi government forces, is credible-credible--despite logic, decency, and even now-ardent-Trump-backer Lindsay Graham saying it's not.
The country should be aghast (and many of us are).
The media (and the free speech that protects even the misguided-or-worse websites that also peddle Trump's disgusting trash) are something we need in this country. They allow us to gain access to facts instead of just taking someone's word for it (such as, "I am not a crook" or "No collusion!!"), they allow us to make informed decisions, and they are vital to keep those in power accountable.
But Trump still peddles his divisiveness and hatred.
And so sadly, for many, it's working.
But is it the media that's the enemy of the people?
Or is it Trump?

Kavanaugh--who he is

Kavanaugh is a danger to this country. His confirmation is a travesty.

Yes, Kavanaugh's views and decisions are ultra-conservative. They will play a major role in changing the course of our country for decades to come.

But that's not the reason he should have been denied.

It's not what he believes that should disqualify him, but rather who he is.

When first nominated, Kavanaugh downplayed his leanings and highlighted his "collegiality with left-leaning judges" (WaPo, 7/10/18).

He repeatedly espouses his supposed belief that the Supreme Court should be non-partisan ("The Supreme Court must never be viewed as a partisan institution," Kavanaugh hearing transcript).  And he's right, cases should be decided based on the fluidity and interpretation of Constitutional law. Yet during his recent hearing, Kavanaugh's true belief reared its partisan head when he, actually, ranted that the assault allegations against him were a political hit, that included "revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars in money from outside left-wing opposition groups."

And that's who he is. Someone who can't be trusted.

And his numerous misleading statements regarding his drinking and activities ("boofing" is flatulence, there's no way he ever could have forgotten anything while drunk, in Maryland the drinking age was 18 so seniors could drink--despite the FACT he was only 17 when Maryland changed the age to 21), also show who he is.

A quote from the Bible of Kavanaugh's religion (Luke 16:10) says, "he who is false in small things, is false in great."

Yes, that's who he is.

And the defensiveness and outright belligerence towards those asking him questions--asking Senators what they drank or, unbelievably, if they had ever blacked out from drinking--has nothing to do with what he believes.

It shows who he is.

Terrifyingly so.

And now who he is is someone soon to sit on the highest court in the land, a court that should light the way of truth and fairness for our citizenry.

Soon to include Brett Kavanaugh.

And who he is should scare everyone.

The Job Interview

This is a job interview based on somewhat condensed questions, but with very real responses from the hypothetical job candidate. Even without any hint of sexual assault allegations, is this a guy you'd hire?

Interviewer (I): Good afternoon, Mr. O'Kavanaugh (O'K). We're here to see if you'd be a good fit for our organization. We're looking for a person of even temperament, a person of outstanding moral character.

I: First question, did you drink beer in high school?

Hypothetical job applicant during his interview

O'K: Yes, we drank beer.My friends and I, the boys and girls. Yes, we drank beer. I liked beer. Still like beer. We drank beer. The drinking age was 18, so the seniors were legal, senior year in high school, people were legal to drink, and we — yeah, we drank beer, and I said sometimes — sometimes probably had too many beers, and sometimes other people had too many beers…. We drank beer. We liked beer.

I: Um, okay. In your high school yearbook, it mentions "ralphing." Does that pertain to alcohol?

O'K: I was at the top of my class academically, busted my butt in school. Captain of the varsity basketball team. Got in Yale College. When I got into Yale College, got into Yale Law School. Worked my tail off.

I: Maybe you didn't understand the question, Mr. O'Kavanaugh. Does "the ralphing" reference pertain to alcohol?

O'K: I like beer.  I like beer. I don’t know if you do…. Do you like beer, (interviewer), or not? What do you like to drink? (Interviewer), what do you like to drink?

I: Um, let's kind of keep on this topic just a bit longer since you've mentioned, at times, that you had too many beers. Have you ever drunk so much that you've not remembered what happened?

O'K: No, I remember what happened. I think you've probably had beers, (interviewer). You're asking about blackouts,...have you? 

I: Um, what?

O'K: I'm curious if you have.

I: Let's move on. Is there anything else you'd like to say?

O'K: This whole (interview process) has been a calculated and orchestrated hit fueled with apparent pent-up anger about (the current organization CEO)  and (his ascension to the position), fear that has been unfairly stoked about my (job performance record), revenge on behalf of the (guy who ran this organization 17 years ago and his wife) and millions of dollars in money from (competing organizations)!

I: Thanks for coming in. We'll let you know.

The Cry of the Desperate

The title sounds as though this is about Trump and his minions, throwing one conspiracy theory after another to detract from corruption found within Trump's administration.

But it's not.

Today, I'm going back to my roots to talk about the man who made this whole blog possible all those years ago: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

Walker is desperate. I can tell because he's lashing out.

Similar to Trump's team (to which Walker has sidled up), Walker's squad has taken to slinging mud. He continues to repeat debunked and salacious claims that his Dem opponent, State Superintendent Tony Evers, let accused teachers keep their teaching licenses (despite investigations and numerous fact checks showing Evers simply could not have legally revoked them). Walker even had his team scrape up yet another possible case to promote against Evers (which, of course, again, was debunked). Even Walker's Lt. Gov. Kleefish pulled out the racism dog whistle to claim (she heard) her Dem opponent took a knee for the national anthem at a public event (which was attended--and the inflammatory accusation easily debunked--by numerous other government officials in attendance that day).

If that's not desperate, I'm not sure what is.

Before Trump's Tweets and the nationwide GOP meltdown, I never thought Scott Walker might lose his reelection campaign. He's upheld some promises (i.e, to endanger the environment to cater to corporations),and has taken credit for state unemployment numbers in a recovering economy (although his "floor" to create 250,000 jobs in his first term fell woefully short). Walker has even taken on some humanitarian/compassionate ideas from Dems (which he will undoubtedly abandon if re-elected).

And, still, Dem challenger Tony Evers maintains a lead in the polls.

Maybe it's because of Walker's disdain for urban areas, or public schools, or university professors fostering free thought, or his incredible dropping-the-ball in regards to our state's crumbling infrastructure. Or maybe it's because Walker and his folks have provided massive funding to foreign corporations to build here (of which conditions of the agreement have already been altered by the corporation). Possibly, Wisconsin is fed up with Walker's promises to make better the juvenile detention facilities, instead opening them to massive abuse and neglect of their charges. Maybe people facing losing their health care are nervous. Or maybe Evers's lead is due to Walker's claims of massive education funding, which don't yet match the massive cuts he made (not to mention the funding siphoned from public to private schools).

Who knows?

I originally didn't think Evers could win because of his ties to public education (which Walker and company have spent years marginalizing and even demonizing). But now that I see it in a new light--that of Walker's "accomplishments" and the substance of that which he highlights in his campaign and commercials--I'm thinking Evers can win and be an effective and unifying leader.

But let's just sit back and see what other kind of mud our desperate Governor starts slinging.

I have a feeling it might make even Donald Trump proud.

Don't Let Trump's Lies Win

This morning, I saw yet another lie from the Commander-in-Chief. This one was how 85% of the media is dishonest.

I shrug my shoulders and keep reading.

Trump lies so often I think I'm becoming immune to it. Nothing he says to manipulate or deflect or denigrate--or that which he just says out of ignorance or his racist or egocentric view of the world--brings me the kind of daily outrage that it did before.

You kind of get used to it--like a flickering light bulb, or the incessant barking of the neighbor's dog--and you just kind of ignore it, right?

Wait...what?.

I mean, Trump continues to peddle lies and hatred and I'm so used to it I just shrug my shoulders?

How terrifying is that? And then I realize that is EXACTLY what this master manipulator wants us to do.

By throwing out so many lies (no, I won't call them untruths or misstatements), Trump believes that the gullible and easily distracted American public won't call him out for it, either because of fatigue (like me) or "it's just what he does" (like virtually every Republican in Congress)"

Hitler is supposed to have said if you tell a lie often enough, it will be believed.

And Trump subscribes to that wholly (i.e., "WITCH HUNT!") . He thinks the American people don't care about the lies he tells. He even says he won't be impeached because he's doing such a good job.

"It's not the truth that matters, but victory."

No, wait, that quote is Hitler's, too.

And I realize that this is scary, folks.

We can't afford to just shrug our shoulders.

Don't let Trump's lies win.

KEEP TRACK OF TRUMP'S LIES HERE at Politifact and at Fact Check.

This is YUGE!

Donald Trump has a penchant for describing anything having to do with his administration as "YUGE!"

Finally, Trump can finally tout something as actually "YUGE!"--Mueller's indictments of twelve Russian intelligence operatives is just that.

The Mueller probe has definitively gone from "witch hunt" to an actual revelation of crimes against this country. Mueller's investigation had confirmed earlier intelligence regarding massive misinformation campaigns, and now has come across enough evidence to identify actors of the Russian government working to attack our democracy.

Now, without speaking of conspiracy or changing of votes or anything, Mueller has apparently documented what can rightly be called an attack on the United States.

GOP members of Congress will continue to sow discord defaming and touting the bias of the DOJ and FBI, but, really, neither has anything to do with this news. The only "Deep State" that can be blamed for this is the Russian government.

And then there's Trump. I wonder how he'll treat the news?

Hmmm.

He decries Mexican immigrants as threats to our country (he's used the word "infest").

He calls out Canada--CANADA!-- as a threat to our national security so he can impose tariffs.

He travels to North Korea to supposedly save the US.

He shuts down travel from Muslim-majority countries because he wants to thwart what he thinks would be any potential attacks.

But yet, a proven cyber-attack on our country, on our democracy--PROVEN!--and there's no reaction. Not really. He blames Obama. He says he believes Putin. And he holds on to his belief (desperate hope, maybe?) that any talk of Russian meddling is a Democrat plot to undermine the legitimacy of his election.

THAT is the most damning of all. The US President doesn't confront or attack or even scold a hostile government that has been repeatedly proven to be attacking the country he represents, whose Constitution he has sworn to uphold.

And I'm not sure why. But I have a few ideas. And I think, in the next few months, we'll see which is the real reason.

And that, my friends, is definitely going to be "YUGE!!!"

Um, WI, it's not just Trump

While most Wisconsinites are distracted, mouth agape, at the horrific occurrences emanating from our commander-in-chief, we may tend to overlook our own horror show closer to home, in the person of Scott Walker.

In addition to sidling up to Trump, Walker, too, has continued his assault on transparency and honesty, which is really an assault on Wisconsin.

Just today in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, classic Walker dealings are highlighted. In one, Walker throws under the bus State Superintendent (and also possible Dem Gubernatorial foe) Tony Evers by claiming Evers's inaction regarding underperforming schools. Walker says Evers should have taken over such schools. Um, but it's not true. Evers neither has the power or opportunity to do so.  Politifact refutes Walker's premise and statement resoundingly:

Walker's actions to decimate WI public education (reducing funding, increasing vouchers, 

demonizing educators) shouldn't ever allow him to cast any (even false) stones

And Walker has continued to get in bed with business at the expense of our state environment (an earlier post here). Today's entry in this category from the Journal Sentinel details Walker quietly receiving talking points from big farm lobbyists to ease environmental restrictions for large livestock farms, whose unregulated runoff decimates our waters.

Green Bay's massive dead zone of too-little 

oxygen is, in large part, due to farm runoff

So, it's merely business as usual. Well, if you're a business.

If, however, you're just a citizen who values things such as transparency and honesty in your government, Wisconsinites are getting a front row seat to "The Creature From the Dishonest Government."

Who needs Trump when we have Walker?

New None-yun: What Winning Looks Like!

White House Top Economic Advisor Lisa Kudrow

Oops, sorry. Economic Adviser LARRY KUDLOW interviews Larry David

Oops, sorry. THIS is Larry David, not Bernie Sanders

Trump Economic Advisor Gives Brief Look at White House Thinking

 New None-yun: What Winning Looks Like!

(um, click the above link)

Another Blow to the Middle Class

While some are cheering the Supreme Court's decision today that  "non-members cannot be forced...to pay fees to unions representing public employees," (Reuters) it is another devastating blow, not only for unions, but for the middle class.

I know you aren't all union fans, but things such as improved safety, training, and fair wages are a result of union presence in all businesses--whether or not they employ union employees. Although, yes, unions--as with any organization--look out for their own interests, their interests actually are, believe it or not, their workers--your neighbors, your friends, your family. Add this to tax cuts for those with higher incomes (not including the relative pittance of some of those one-time bonuses, or the meager savings from tax rebates) and previous statewide decimations of union advocacy in both the private and public sectors, and, well, it doesn't look good, really, for the middle class.

By removing the requirement for non-union members to pay for services provided--such as the above-mentioned safety, training, and wages--this Supreme Court decision dramatically reduces the funds for a union to effectively keep those middle-class benefits from deteriorating. It will take money out of the pockets of the workers (thus, the economy will have less flowing into it), and puts it in the hands of the corporate executives and shareholders.

"But isn't that a good thing? That way, shareholders can get more money on their investments, and corporations can put more back into their businesses!"

Um, yeah, but that's not the way it works in the real world. Even while this "trickle-down" theory stemmed recessions under Reagan and GW Bush, income inequality actually worsened. In other words, the rich got richer, and the poor (and middle-class) got poorer.

And that's most of us.

That's already me. From a personal perspective, as a teacher, my union was completely eviscerated in 2010 by the Wisconsin legislature (a post of mine at the time). My wages froze, benefits were reduced (less pension, higher health costs), things such as working calendars and conditions were decided with no educator input, and there were few employee protections (matters are decided by a district-appointed third party). Overall, I lost more than ten percent of my paycheck, and have wages that do not increase unless I petition for it every three years citing additional district-related, but out of the classroom, activities (read: how much extra labor I put in, which really doesn't make it a raise, does it?). And the "savings" to the districts really haven't been put back into the system (districts hold referenda to increase their funding).

I don't mean to complain, I'm just sharing how it really is.

And sadly, for your middle-class neighbors, friends, and family, that's how it also will be.

Well, and likely for you, too.

The None-yun: Trump's Foray into Space

Click here for the scoop on Trump's new Space Force: Where No Man Has Ever Gone Before

(satire from the None-yun)

Winnowing down the Dems

Wisconsin's Democratic primary for Governor is going to include ten people. Ten people! (there originally were fifteen, but I guess someone figured out a ballot isn't seven pages long).

Clockwise, from upper left: Evers, Wachs, Gronik,
 Soglin, Pade, Viniehout, Flynn, Mitchell, McCabe, Roys
(montage from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/13/18)

So how does a voter winnow down the candidates to find the most viable to take on Scott Walker in this fall's gubernatorial contest? With Foxconn's arrival of (supposedly) 13,000 good-paying jobs (not mentioning the complete economic and environmental sell-out by the state), as well as presiding over a time with historically low unemployment, Walker's got some momentum with most of the pro-Trump voters.  Hopefully, the anti-Walker rhetoric will not just be about his eventual acceptance and embracing of Trump (although any logical person would think that association would be enough to doom someone's candidacy). But we'll just have to see what happens.

First off, I have to chastise the Wisconsin Democrats for not being able to come up with a unified, strong candidate after certainly knowing for four years (or eight years) that this day would come.

That being said, back to winnowing. Please, please, please understand this is not a scientific process, but what I think might be a glimpse into which candidate voters may think might be the most viable.

First off, baggage. There are some wonderful candidates out there that just won't be able to shake their past political associations. Kathleen Vinehout was one of the Wisconsin Democratic Senators that fled the state to attempt to momentarily stop Act 10.  Madison Mayor Paul Soglin is the definition of a Madison liberal to most outstate voters. Tony Evers is the current state superintendent of public instruction, and has butted heads (kind of ) with Scott Walker (and I perceive, rightly or wrongly, that Walker is the one that is left standing, unscathed). Matt Flynn has close ties to (sorry, but) previous losers, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. He was the liberal talking head on a television show hosted by Milwaukee conservative radio talker, Mark Belling--and I think he may suffer the same big-city liberal tag for outstate voters, if they remember him. Mike McCabe's often described as a Madison activist--which I fear many outstate voters, especially, would equate with the boogeyman or a zombie apocalypse. Mahlon Mitchell, the firefighter from Madison, proudly touts his strong Union ties (and endorsements) which,sadly, now in this state is not a positive selling point for many voters (after unions were systematically vilified and dismantled under the Scott Walker regime).

That's too bad, really. Many of the ideas and plans expressed by some of these candidates are very strong, and many have done positive work for the public, but I just think their baggage is a pretty high mountain to scale.

Well, that cuts it down by more than half.

Next, issues. Josh Pade is a relative newcomer to politics. He preaches a wonderful idea--inclusion and bipartisanship, something I think neither pro- or anti-Trump voters will really go for in this maniacally divided and partisan time in our nation (and our state). 

That leaves self-proclaimed outsider, businessman Andy Gronik, former (rural) WI Assembly member, but Madison-connected Kelda Roys, and Eau Claire WI Assembly member Dana Wachs. Their ideas are spelled out in their campaign sites (with actual plans to accomplish them), and seem to keep Wisconsin citizens in the forefront.

However, there are still some challenges.

For example, would Wisconsin elect a woman as Governor? I'd hope so, although the state didn't go for Hillary Clinton, and Walker's last opponent, Madisonian businesswoman Mary Burke didn't make it, either. So sadly, I don't think Roys will win (she'd be my choice, however--or Vinehout). 

Andy Gronik and I went to the same high school--the same high school that spawned conservative radio talkers Charlie Sykes and Jeff Wagner (well, and Kato Kaelin), so maybe that'd be good for him (just kidding--his ideas are anything but conservative). However, at least according to Politifact, Gronik has some challenges with accuracy. And The Journal-Sentinel's Daniel Bice reported on some major problems with Gronik's "successful" business career.

So, of the ten candidates cited in the Journal-Sentinel (of the multitude), that leaves Wachs (full disclosure, I thought Dana was a woman for several weeks). He'd be fine, I guess, but I'n not convinced that he can capture the imagination or the support of voters throughout the state.

Um, so that leaves, um, no one to defeat Scott Walker?

It may look that way now.  I never thought Trump would win public office either, so you never know.

from keywordsking.com

Wisconsin Democrats need to make sure that the issues are relevant for all Wisconsinites (health care, education, infrastructure), make connections with the people vs. businesses (especially tax breaks, environment), and stay civil and decent (even though the opposite worked for Donald Trump). They have to convince voters that Scott Walker's plans (Foxconn, crumbling roads, a still-depleted education system, etc.) don't benefit the citizens of our great state.

Hmmm, I wonder if Aaron Rodgers has ever considered the benefits of public service...?