Rhymes With Clown

• Don't Hate Favre Because He's Winning

  Number of comments: 1
  It used to be that living well was the best revenge, but if you happen to be Brett Favre, it's pretty clear that playing well is actually a better one.
  
  No Packer fan enjoys seeing the Vikings succeed, but there are a substantial number that are glad [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 8:09pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• No News in WI-8 is Good News for.........whom?

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  The crowded Republican primary field for Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District was the subject of both an article and an editorial in the Green Bay Press Gazette today.
  
  Unfortunately, both were remarkable for saying so little*. As anybody with an internet connection and a free blog could [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 2:22pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• About that trade agreement we had...........

  Number of comments: 0
  The Cap Times reports on the Wisconsin congressional delegation's position on H.R. 3012:
  Wisconsin House members Tammy Baldwin, Gwen Moore and Steve Kagen, all Democrats, are co-sponsors. They’re on the right side of history. The other members of the delegation — Democrat Ron Kind and Republicans Paul Ryan, James [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 2:01pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• The China Syndrome

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  Much has been made of the United States' indebtedness to China. This discussion usually revolves around the questions of just how much is too much debt given our economic circumstances and what happens if China decides to stop lending us so much money.
  
  This second question assumes that China's [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 1:25pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Palin, Clinton, and the Voyages of Sinbad

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  Illusory Tenant directs our attention to Andrew Sullivan's blog wherein he exposes Sarah Palin's sinister deception about her days playing Scrabble. Yes, Scrabble.
  
  Apparently she claims in her book that her family games included the hoarding of K's and Q's. Which, of course, is impossible since there is [...]
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  Posted: November 28, 2009, 8:41am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Successful Blogs Have Links

  Number of comments: 0
  Items to NOT buy during this holiday weekend (hopefully it's not too late).
  
  I pledge that if I ever become President, there will be no Thanksgiving turkey pardon.
  
  Unofficial list of problem banks from Calculated Risk Blog (includes some AZ and WI banks)
  
  Set [...]
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  Posted: November 28, 2009, 7:26am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• What is Political Correctness?

  Number of comments: 1
  Political Correctness is a term and concept that is often invoked by those on the right when they detect an attempt to restrict speech or other discourse that those on the left find objectionable. It has been invoked so often though, that it occasionally becomes cover for those who have [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 9:56am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Happy Thanksgiving

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  The two that got away.........
  
  
  The two that didn't....
  ' [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 6:42am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• On Malthus and Children as Accessories

  Number of comments: 0
  Even if you don't know who Thomas Malthus was, you can recognize his present-day descendants in those that claim human beings should restrict reproduction due to the danger of over-population. Predictions of dire consequences for an earth burdened by too many people have been around a long time. That' [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 8:16pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Republicans would be wrong to limit their options now.

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  The Journal Sentinel (h/t Fox Politics) takes a look at the Republican race for governor and concludes that Scott Walker is off to a quicker start than Mark Neumann's.
  
  While that is certainly accurate, I'm not sure it amounts to much. The article goes on to note [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 9:07pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Sense out of the Senseless: Healthcare Edition

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  Megan McArdle produces a great and short summary of the arguments surrounding the healthcare debate on both sides. The incoherence is staggering.
  
  First up the Republicans:
  Medicare costs too much, and also, shouldn't be cut.I realize why this is politically popular (old people vote) but you can't be [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 8:49pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Successful Blogs Have Links

  Number of comments: 0
  Chopstick fan and other crazy Japanese inventions.
  
  Leggo my eggo. It might be the last one.
  
  Uphill, both ways, in the snow - Sparring over meager beginnings.
  
  There's no Klingon word for diaper?
  
  A dance to the tune of economic decline
  Is [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 7:08am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Roger Roth to Run for WI-8

  Number of comments: 0
  OK, with this post, I think I am up to date on the candidates. Of course, by the time I wake up tomorrow, two or three more people may have joined the race.
  
  Wis Politics (H/T Lakeshore Laments):
  
  State Rep. Roger Roth, a Republican from Appleton, [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 8:33pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• McCormick Seeks WI-8 Seat

  Number of comments: 0
  A little late, I know, but I've been busy this week. I also realize that I am at least one other candidate behind at this point.
  
  Post Crescent:
  Former state Rep. Terri McCormick, R-Greenville, announced Tuesday she would join a host of Republican hopefuls in the 2010 8th' [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 8:20pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Consider the Levy

  Number of comments: 0
  Jo Egelhoff writing at Fox Politics reminds us that at budget time you should always remember the levy:
  If there’s nothing else you remember about your property taxes, remember this: It’s the tax levy, friend, the tax levy. (“Stupid” is memorable, but perhaps a little too harsh and Clinton-esque.) [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 8:46pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• De Pere Adopts 2010 Budget

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  Press Gazette:
  

  Overall, the council unanimously adopted a $15.35 million general fund budget for 2010, up about 1.41 percent from $15.14 million for 2009.

  Members approved a $10.56 million total tax levy to support the budget, up 2.49 percent from $10.30 million from last year. The increases mean the [...]

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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 9:00pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Death Panels (Yes, Again)

  Number of comments: 0
  With the political blogosphere going practically all Sarah Palin all the time I think it is worthwhile to revisit the "death panel" debate. Particularly since I see it repeatedly mentioned as being ridiculous, beyond belief, and proof that somehow Palin is unfit for office. She may well be unfit for [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 8:17pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Labor Pains for Barrett, Wisconsin

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  Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has only recently announced his intention to run for governor, but already there are those arguing he can't both run for governor and push forward on a plan for mayoral control of the Milwaukee Public School system. This criticism though, isn't originating from Republicans, but rather [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 9:17pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Labor Pains for Barrett, Wisconsin

  Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has only recently announced his intention to run for governor, but already there are those arguing he can't both run for governor and push forward on a plan for mayoral control of the Milwaukee Public School system.  This criticism though, isn't originating from Republicans, but rather [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 9:16pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Civilian Trial for Terrorist is a Mistake

  Number of comments: 0
  News that Kahlid Sheikh Mohammed would be tried in a civilian court in New York was met with no small amount of pushback, and for good reason.  It's a bad idea.
  
  Some Obama supporters have claimed that a civilian trial is exactly what the country needs to prove [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:48pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Do you still think home schooling isn't a great idea?

  Number of comments: 0
  What no one wants to admit on either side of this debate is that it takes 15 to 20 years to find out if an educational idea works, be it mayoral control, outside charter schools or voucher schools.
  
  This from the Milwaukee Area Labor Council an AFL-CIO organization.
  [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:26pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Price Controls in Health Care Bill

  Number of comments: 0
  The Open Congress Blog reports on a provision of the House health reform that hasn't received much coverage.  It requires that insurers to return a portion of premiums to customers when claims are below a certain level.  A level, by the way, specified by the Secretary of Health &' [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 7:36am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Successful Blogs Have Links

  Number of comments: 0
  Super Special Saturday Bonus edition. If you only click one link, make it the Hudson River landing simulation.
  
  Video simulation of Hudson River plane landing
  
  Breast-feeding as exercise.
  
  Probably fake, but still a great prank.
  
  Best of the decade lists (books, music, [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 7:39am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Successful Blogs Have Links

  Number of comments: 0
  Gernerations on Arizona's Mogollon Rim.
  
  Redesigning the helmets of the Redskins, Bucs, & Patriots.
  
  Tour the classic architecture of the Green Bay Correctional Institution.
  
  The Daily Beast's list of hot jobs.
  
  1 in 3 chance of another bubble.
  
  Pop music [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 7:23am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Joe Stern for WI-8

  Number of comments: 0
  I realize I'm a little late to this party, but thought I would join anyway (it was all that econ blogging this week.)
  
  Former Niagra Mayor Joe Stern will run for Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District against Steve Kagen.
  
  I can't help but think that the proliferating opponents has' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 8:28pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• WI-8 District Prediction: McCormick Will Run

  Number of comments: 0
  I know that's not exactly big news for those in the know, but I am convinced that is the case. This is not based on any special or insider information (I don't have either) but it is based on an email I received from McCormick a few days ago.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:52pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• With Friends Like These - Healthcare Reform Edition

  Number of comments: 2
  With the House vote last weekend approving a healthcare reform bill, it seems everyone is concerned about the implications which are admittedly hard to grasp from a 2,000 page document written by lawyers.
  
  It's only natural that people might turn to other sources in the media to help them' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:26pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Our Looming Fiscal Disaster

  Number of comments: 0
  Think that's overstated?  Well here's CBO Director Elmendorf:
  I concluded the talk by emphasizing that fiscal policy is on an unsustainable path to an extent that cannot be solved by minor tinkering. The country faces a fundamental disconnect between the services the people expect the government to provide, particularly [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:20pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• The Strange Shape of Senate Financial Reform

  Number of comments: 0
  Today Senator Chris Dodd unveiled a plan for the Senate version of financial regulatory reform.
  
  The big news is the changes in the power of the Federal Reserve and the FDIC.  The Fed would be restricted in its ability to make loans to financial institutions, which of late [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:12pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Brown County Approves Budget

  Number of comments: 5
  By a 23-3 vote the Brown County Board approved the 2010 budget.  The Press Gazette reports:
  The Brown County tax levy will increase by about $2.026 million for 2010 under a budget approved Monday by the Brown County Board.
  
  The budget is about $589,086 lower than county Executive [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 6:54am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• De Pere Police Turmoil. Who Knew?

  Number of comments: 0
  I honestly didn't.
  
  The Press Gazette dot Gov blog reports:
  All is not well in the De Pere Police Department. Members of the police union took a nearly unanimous vote of no-confidence in police Chief Derek Beiderwieden. They've accused him of lying, delegating duties they feel should be [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 8:50pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Ratings Agencies Reconsidered

  Number of comments: 1
  Among the storylines that seem widely accepted surrounding the financial crisis is one concerning the ratings agencies. These are the businesses that evaluate and assign grades to securites (e.g. AAA, AA, etc.).
  
  The standard narrative goes something like this: Investement banks like Goldman Sachs had a pile of mortgages [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 8:43pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Abortion Ammendment to be Considered

  Number of comments: 1
  Washington Post:
  House Democratic leaders agreed Friday night to settle an impasse over abortion by letting the entire House vote on a proposed solution, a risky decision that could determine the fate of their trillion-dollar overhaul of the nation's health care system.

  Under the agreement, anti-abortion Democrats will be' [...]

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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 8:18am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Successful Blogs Have Links

  Number of comments: 0
  The town that Google built. Sort of. (H/T Mrs. RWC)
  
  If only King Lear had studied game theory. Then, of course, we wouldn't have King Lear.
  
  Sorry about that whole Citibank thing.
  
  Princess Leia between takes.
  
  A backhanded compliment never sounded so' [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 7:53am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Waupaca Candidate Forum

  Number of comments: 0
  The Waupaca County Republicans are hosting a forum tomorrow from 2-4 p.m. at the Central County Airport in Iola.
  
  Top notch guest list includes Scott Walker, J.B. Van Hollen, Marc Savard, Andy Williams, Reid Ribble and others.
  
  Free and open to the public. They even promise refreshments!
  [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 9:09pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• The Reluctant Warrior

  Number of comments: 0
  OK, that title is a bit melodramatic, but how's this for the opening of a campaign announcement:
  Okay, so I guess the cat’s out of the bag. One reporter from the Appleton Post-Crescent actually did her homework, checked the facts with the Government Accountability Board, and discovered' [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 8:55pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• New Candidate for Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional Distirct

  Number of comments: 0
  Press Gazette reports:
  -->The Republican field of candidates running to challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton, gets bigger today as Howard physician Marc Trager announces his run for Congress....
  
  "Our campaign will target the economic and social issues important to families in the district, bringing new ideas" [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 8:54pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• What's really going on with healthcare reform

  Number of comments: 0
  This from the New Yorker: 
  
  So what does it all add up to? The U.S. government is making a costly and open-ended commitment to help provide health coverage for the vast majority of its citizens. I support this commitment, and I think the federal government’s spending priorities [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 8:49pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Sen. Mark Miller Channels Bobby Jindal

  Number of comments: 1
  WisPolitics Budget Blog covers the letter that Senator Mark Miller (D) sent to Education Secretary Arne Duncan expressing concern about strings attached the Race to the Top education grants coming with too many strings: 
  As much as I and other public officials want to improve public school performance, [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:29pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Ribble Responds to his Critics

  Number of comments: 0
  In the comments to my initial post on 8th CD Republican candidate Reid Ribble, an anonymous commenter left two items raising concerns about Ribble's candidacy. You can read the original post and comments here, but here is the crux of Anon's complaint: Is Ribble just a a carpetbagger picked [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 6:46am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• California Thievin'

  Number of comments: 0
  It appears the citizens of California have decided to go in to the short term money-lending game. Their only customer will be the State of California itself.
  
  Did I say decided? I meant it was decided for them. McArdle:
  California has come up with a novel way to [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 8:57pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Crist Should be the Next to Go

  Number of comments: 1
  Writing at Forbes, Reihan Salam has a withering critique of Florida Governor Charlie Crist and hits on the thing that, to me at least, lies at the heart of the struggle within the Republican party.
  Charlie Crist is an extraordinarily gifted politician, known for his unpretentious and warm demeanor. [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 8:32pm EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown

• Fools for the Citi

  Number of comments: 1
  OVER the past 80 years, the United States government has engineered not one, not two, not three, but at least four rescues of the institution now known as Citigroup .
  Reports the New York Times. The article has a brief history of the [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 7:39am EST
  by Jeremy R. Shown