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edited by: Chris Liebenthal, Wisconsin Editor

Midwestern Clarity

  • An e-mail to the good folks at CNBC...

    "Good Morning.

    I'm a fan of CNBC and Squawk in particular. This is a comment on Joe Kernen's interview ( I am also a fan of Mr. Kernen) with the Fannie Mae executive about causes of the meltdown.  Joe's question was posed as an either / or proposition.'" [...]
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    Posted: November 20, 2009, 10:08am EST

  • Rick Santelli is right (again)

    This morning I watched CNBC's Rick Santelli talking from the Chicago Board Of Trade.  His so-called, "Santelli Rant" has been watched on YouTube over a million times and his sentiments today, once again, represent the views of many Americans who pay their own way, just like you and me.  We believe in living' [...]
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    Posted: November 13, 2009, 4:32pm EST

  • A violent, drug-ravaged culture (changed for the better)

    I have heard from friends with ties to Columbia, that conditions have dramatically improved across the country, although impressions from an ugly past still linger around the world. 

    Tonight during Anthony Bourdain's show about Columbia, I watch as he visits Medellín and interviews locals - many of whom suffered enormously during the awful Pablo Escobar period of' [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 8:04pm EST

  • He who frames the healthcare debate...wins.

    When the topic of "healthcare reform" took center stage this summer, I thought I was the only one who felt that "healthcare reform" had suddenly become code for "let's-change-health-insurance." 


    Yes, I was certain that I was missing something.  It's like the "3.5M jobs saved" [...]
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    Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:21pm EST

  • When will we reward the savers?

    This week, the author of a Barron's cover story posits that it's time for the Fed to raise interest rates.  The macro debate for and against doing so, I'll leave for economists.  The populist argument in favor of raising rates, however, I find compelling. 

    The Barron's article which is titled, "C'mon Ben!"' [...]
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    Posted: October 19, 2009, 7:19am EDT

  • Obama's editorializing doesn't add up

    Consider two recent cases that occupied national media airwaves: the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and video tape of ACORN employees giving advice to individuals posing as operators of an under-aged prostitution business.

    In the first case, the President on national television, declares that law enforcement [...]
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    Posted: September 21, 2009, 9:54am EDT

  • Tea party rocks Milwaukee's lake front


    Ever attend a tea party?
    They don't serve tea at this kind, but visitors do receive a generous helping of speeches and opportunities to express themselves. Yesterday on a bright sunny afternoon at Milwaukee's Veterans Park, thousands of attendees were treated to a litany [...]
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    Posted: September 20, 2009, 9:32am EDT

  • Midwestern watchdog reporting still works

    For anyone reading outside the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor (because if you live within it you have undoubtedly seen these stories), I reference two current examples why the Fourth Estate matters - why it still serves the public interest.

    Locally, in my home town of Milwaukee, readers were shocked and angry [...]
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    Posted: September 07, 2009, 9:51am EDT

  • Nora Ephron, a Republican would have fired you

    Julie & Julia is a new film starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. I watched the film yesterday alongside sixty or so other theatre goers.

    For anyone who loves Julia Child (as I do) the film is worth watching. Meryl Streep's depiction of the late great gourmand, is stunningly' [...]
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    Posted: August 21, 2009, 4:49am EDT

  • The Atlantic meets The Economist

    Readers of this space see an occasional post on media topics like my ill-fated call on a now-defunct business periodical called Portfolio. Today, I'll simply mention the type of article I wish I saw more of - the kind where mainstream media analyzes itself with some depth and detachment.[...]
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    Posted: August 15, 2009, 1:59pm EDT

  • Why not create a `buy and hold' ETF?

    It's no secret that Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are popular, but the financial press is increasingly reminding us that they are not a wise investment for the "buy and hold" investor. In fact, there is a body proclaiming that the economic bloodbath has rendered buy and hold effectively dead as' [...]
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    Posted: August 01, 2009, 10:58am EDT

  • Rather than edit my last Palin post...

    I'll simply provide a link to a CBS poll, taken this month, that reports an astonishing number - 51% of the GOP view Ms. Palin as unqualified to be an effective President. I guess I posted too early. Here's the link, you can scrutinize the methodology or do whatever [...]
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    Posted: July 26, 2009, 10:16am EDT

  • Nearly forty percent of GOP doubts Palin's abilities

    Glad I'm not alone. A recently-released ABC News/Washington Post poll with a sampling error of plus or minus 3% shows that not only is Ms. Palin's support waning across the political spectrum, it is also slipping among Republicans as a whole.

    Like the 83% of Republicans surveyed, I [...]
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    Posted: July 26, 2009, 8:57am EDT

  • Peggy Noonan's column in today's WSJ


    Forward-thinking Republicans will thank Peggy Noonan for explaining what too few of us have the courage to say - Sarah Palin, even with all her attributes, was one of the worst things that could have happened to our party, at about the worst possible time.

    [...]
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    Posted: July 11, 2009, 9:10am EDT

  • Wisconsin ghost writer no more!

    I wrote a piece for a client (minus my byline) to express strong objections to Wisconsin's recently-enacted, anti-prosperity budget bill.

    Several of my passages on our predatory state tax system and our perennially over-funded educational system, had to be deleted for (my client's) political purposes. I understand.

    However, [...]
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    Posted: July 09, 2009, 7:29pm EDT

  • Milwaukee County and remembering Reagan's example

    The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports today that a judge has allowed the furloughs (days off without pay) of some union workers to commence in accordance with Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker's order - starting Monday.

    It's unfortunate, that instead of supporting his fiscal responsibility, the County Board continues [...]
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    Posted: June 27, 2009, 8:28am EDT

  • Taxes, polls and tired arguments


    Yesterday morning at the beautiful Discovery World facility at Pier Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett participated in a panel discussion on Wisconsin's transportation needs and how to fund them. The event was also attended by Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, who had some decidedly different ideas' [...]
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    Posted: June 11, 2009, 6:35am EDT

  • My dowdy prediction

    A week has elapsed since I wrote about Maureen Dowd. I thought by now she would have acknowledged an intentional copy and paste job, followed by a sorry-I-forgot-to-attribute apology. I think that's all it would have taken to make this saga go away.

    Ms. Dowd points out that earlier' [...]
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    Posted: May 30, 2009, 1:20pm EDT

  • Is Maureen Dowd in trouble?


    The answer is yes.

    Forty-three words without attribution, a laughable excuse and by now I suspect, a truth audit of her past work is well underway.

    Had Ann Coulter done this, the New York Times (and perhaps Ms. Dowd herself) would have [...]
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    Posted: May 22, 2009, 7:27am EDT

  • French lessons

    We are fortunate enough to have a young student from France living with us these days. It is her first visit to our country and I feel we are learning as much (or more) from her, as she is learning from us.

    After attending high school classes with [...]
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    Posted: April 24, 2009, 6:46am EDT

  • Saved or created?

    It hit me while driving someplace, maybe a month ago - the President, was talking about the outcome of his stimulus package, and he used the now oft-repeated phrase about three and half million jobs, "saved or created." I'm hearing it again now as I watch one of his minions' [...]
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    Posted: March 15, 2009, 9:13am EDT

  • Submitted to US Senator Herb Kohl moments ago...

    Dear Senator Kohl,

    I am writing as a private citizen to voice my strong opposition to the bill misleadingly labeled as the "Employee Free Choice Act" also known as Card Check.

    The coercive leadership of organized labor does not need additional tools to intimidate ordinary men and women [...]
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    Posted: March 11, 2009, 7:27pm EDT

  • Walker for governor - sign me up.

    If you had never met Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, you'd be hard pressed to spot him in a crowded room.

    Mr. Walker is a average-looking man, with plain features and an unassuming demeanor. Even his name is common. He looks like a million other guys. I made his acquaintance' [...]
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    Posted: February 28, 2009, 11:06am EST

  • Quote of the week

    Hedge fund executive, Oscar S. Schafer in a Barron's interview (January 12, 2009, "Hang on Tight!") described our current economic conditions thus: "The world is experiencing a giant margin call."

    Yes, indeed - a giant margin call caused by easy credit extended to millions of people who couldn't afford [...]
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    Posted: January 17, 2009, 10:37am EST

  • A president's farewell


    You felt sorry for him as he approached the lectern with a sheepish smile.

    As Kissinger reminded Nixon, I believe that history will treat him better than his contemporaries. One reason this is so, is that his policies faithfully executed have precluded another attack on [...]
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    Posted: January 15, 2009, 7:40pm EST

  • Feedback to my last post

    Regarding point #2 from my previous post concerning Al Franken, I'd like to thank my nephew who alerted me to a fine political cartoon (from Cartoonist Michael Ramirez).' [...]
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    Posted: January 14, 2009, 7:05pm EST

  • Three year-end items requiring midwestern clarity. . .

    The first day I saw the video, my immediate (and only lasting) reaction to the incident in Iraq with the ranting journalist and President Bush was - how did that shoe-throwing fanatic have enough time to get off a second throw before he was quite appropriately slammed to the ground? [...]
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    Posted: January 10, 2009, 9:58am EST

  • William McGurn's column - today's Wall Street Journal (WSJ)

    The piece is called, "What's Good for GM Could Be Good for America" - my reaction was positive and my message sent to the WSJ author minutes ago, reads...

    "Dear Mr. McGurn,

    Thank you for your attention to the pernicious impact of organized labor and their ridiculously generous'" [...]
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    Posted: December 02, 2008, 6:37pm EST

  • Go ahead, call it monday morning quarterbacking...

    but if the economy, the war, an opponent with vastly more cash and an unpopular President in office, all were not enough to doom his campaign - any chance of victory went irretrievably south after Senator McCain selected Governor Palin as his running mate. Bold choice? You betcha, but look [...]
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    Posted: November 08, 2008, 8:39am EST

  • Bungled bailout?

    While the AIG party didn’t bother me, this does...

    The Wall Street Journal reported today that some banks intend to use the bailout money to help make acquisitions.

    I recognize that some of the banks at the recent come-to-Paulsen meeting expressed reluctance to accept the bailout funds [...]
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    Posted: October 21, 2008, 8:35pm EDT

  • The Now Infamous AIG Party


    This was the same type of insurance company outing that other insurance companies who sell through independent reps, fund each year. There were less than a dozen AIG people in attendance.

    Unfortunately, due to the timing, the issue has become a a silly media-driven frenzy. [...]
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    Posted: October 08, 2008, 9:33pm EDT

  • Old Posts (re-posted)

    Saturday, June 07, 2008--Hillary Clinton, Peggy Noonan and me

    I owe Ms. Peggy Noonan. My own infatuation with the tenacious campaign of Hillary Clinton almost made me lose my senses. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan brings me back to earth. Before I explain, here's my take on Peggy' [...]
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    Posted: October 08, 2008, 9:20pm EDT

  • Governor Sarah Palin's big splash

    Let's dispense with popular media questions...

    Question #1: Was Governor Palin fully "vetted" by the McCain team before her selection? Answer: It doesn't matter - she's in.

    Question #2: Was Governor Palin a bold choice, an inspired choice, or simply a reckless choice? Answer: See answer to Question [...]
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    Posted: September 02, 2008, 7:15pm EDT

  • Milwaukee Musing - Fonzie & Voter Fraud

    Last week while at work, I mentioned to someone that I was reading about measures to curb voter fraud as described in an August 15th Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article.

    My friend grumbled something about this issue probably amounting to no more than "100 votes." In essence, my friend, [...]
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    Posted: August 19, 2008, 6:54pm EDT

  • Fore! Look out for this wine...

    I guess "me too" celebrity marketing now extends to wine.

    Most oenophiles are familiar with pro golfer Greg ('The Shark") Norman's line of fine wines. Mr. Norman makes some big and (in my opinion) very respectable reds. We have long enjoyed his Aussie-grown Shiraz, for example.

    Unfortunately, [...]
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    Posted: July 29, 2008, 6:48pm EDT

  • Random rants: Favre, finances and MS Windows

    I have complained before to my local paper, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that Brett Favre and the Packers in general, receive way too much page one attention. Note: I said page one, not the sports section.

    I understand why the editors do it. The readership wants it, they have [...]
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    Posted: July 19, 2008, 4:53am EDT

  • Here's why...

    I have not posted on the loss of Tim Russert - it is simply too painful.

    I feel as though I have lost a well-grounded, informed and trusted neighbor.

    How many political analysts with his reputation remain?

    R.I.P. TR [...]
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    Posted: June 18, 2008, 10:27pm EDT

  • Ron Paul's inevitable collapse

    A wooden stake has been driven through the political being known as Ron Paul. If only Dr. Paul would now merge forces with Ralph Nader, we'd be left with one giant sinkhole of Libertarian irrelevance. [...]
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    Posted: June 15, 2008, 11:49am EDT

  • Hillary Clinton, Peggy Noonan and me

    I owe Ms. Peggy Noonan.

    My own infatuation with the tenacious campaign of Hillary Clinton almost made me lose my senses. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan brings me back to earth. Before I explain, here's my take on Peggy Noonan - she's a better columnist than speechwriter, or [...]
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    Posted: June 07, 2008, 9:27am EDT

  • True grit

    Both publicly and privately, I have been hard on the Clintons for a long time and I'll make no apologies for my words. A representative sample of my dissatisfaction with Mrs. Clinton's persona can be found in this post and an equally frank assessment of Mr. Clinton's presidential foibles [...]
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    Posted: May 19, 2008, 7:03pm EDT

  • A moment of fun in Washington

    Set aside your politics for once. Last night's live performance by President Bush at the White House Correspondents Association dinner was pure fun. The president actually looked pretty comfortable directing the Marine Corp Band playing the John Phillip Sousa song. And Dick Cheney on the Segway was funny. [...]
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    Posted: April 27, 2008, 5:33pm EDT

  • Here's some vinegar in your morning cup of coffee

    When I was first learning to write essays, our teacher stressed the importance of grabbing your readers' attention early on in your work, like a compelling "lead" to a news story.

    Consider columnist Jessie Eisinger's recent piece in the latest edition of Portfolio magazine in which his very [...]
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    Posted: April 22, 2008, 7:49pm EDT

  • You haven't posted in two weeks and you write about what?

    Compact flourescent light bulbs (CFLs). Yes, that's right. Those tubular, little cork screw-like devices that many of us have switched to for our illumination needs, is the subject du jour. Why? I am growing sick of them. I am all for saving money in fact, few things in life bring [...]
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    Posted: April 13, 2008, 3:51pm EDT

  • An Irish Easter For Some Maddentes

    My wife and eldest daughter are now enjoying Easter day in the storied land of Dublin. I wish the rest of us could have joined them.

    To anyone reading today - HAPPY EASTER - Rejoice! [...]
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    Posted: March 23, 2008, 3:31pm EDT

  • Obama travel files- this is breaking news?

    Apparently, Senator Obama's passport file has been reviewed. OK, logical questions are by whom and why? Also, how did the story breakers learn about the review? I'm just trying to get educated here, but at the same time, I am also trying to understand - where is the story?

    [...]
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    Posted: March 20, 2008, 9:14pm EDT

  • Hello Google! Is anyone out there?

    A small, almost unnoticeable news brief on the paper page B4 of The Wall Street Journal today, contained a disturbing AP report. Apparently, the Pentagon had to intercede in order to thwart Google from proceeding with its plans to have "Google Earth teams" make detailed, panoramic maps of U.S. military [...]
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    Posted: March 07, 2008, 4:40pm EST

  • WFB R.I.P.

    I have long suspected that the day we'd learn of the passing of William F. Buckley, Jr. was not far away. My fears are now realized. Yesterday morning, at the age of 82, while working in his study, we lost Bill Buckley.

    Mr. Buckley captivated us for five decades' [...]
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    Posted: February 28, 2008, 12:21pm EST

  • Does Rivera know something we don't?

    Yesterday, my wife and I watched incredulously as we observed Gerlado Rivera interviewing Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones on FOX.

    The first reaction was that we must have missed some bombshell discovery like a photograph of Senator McCain on a boat with a babe in Bimini.

    No we [...]
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    Posted: February 25, 2008, 10:13am EST

  • Real time stream of consciousness from the debate

    The first thing to surprize me is the roar of this crowd - it seems like a larger contingent of Hillaries.

    Must she always wear a pantsuit?

    Must she invoke the memory of Ann Richard?

    He is going to strike common ground with Hillary - unite against [...]
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    Posted: February 21, 2008, 7:03pm EST

  • It's over

    It's officially over for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

    It really doesn't matter what happens in Texas, Ohio, or elsewhere. Her presidential bid is finished. Forget your delegate counts (pledged and unpledged) and your polling data.

    Consider instead, recent empirical evidence like the NY Times blog today and please pay [...]
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    Posted: February 20, 2008, 11:51am EST

  • The audacity of change

    My first impulse was a constitutional amendment. Getting that done is a long shot so I revised my proposal. Here goes: I am convinced all Americans would derive enormous benefit during political campaigns, if a simple law was enacted.

    To wit: No candidate running for the office of President [...]
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    Posted: February 19, 2008, 8:57pm EST

  • Hucka-strength

    Excerpt published in the New York Times Politics Blog, 2.19.2008

    Last night I attended the Mike Huckabee rally in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The room size was well chosen. Swelling with hundreds of people and dozens of signs, it must have translated into a great television picture.

    The crowd was [...]
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    Posted: February 14, 2008, 9:45am EST

  • A gem from Ann Coulter

    I'm still chuckling about a recent Ann Coulter appearance on C-SPAN.

    It's no secret that Ms. Coulter is less than enchanted with John McCain. Nonetheless, I believe Ms. Coulter and every sane Republican would prefer Sen. McCain over Hillary Clinton.

    Now here's the gem...after contemplating for a moment' [...]
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    Posted: February 12, 2008, 10:06am EST

  • Reflections on a summit for prosperity

    Yesterday on a snowy wet Saturday, the Wisconsin Chapter of Americans For Prosperity (AFP) held its "Defending the American Dream Summit" in Pewaukee and attendees were treated to speeches from Dinesh D'Souza, Steve Moore and local Sheriff David Clark (who can hold his own on the stage among better known' [...]
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    Posted: February 10, 2008, 7:03pm EST

  • NOW, that's an outrage

    I never thought I'd find myself on the same side of anything as Ted Kennedy - until NOW.

    A press release from The New York Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) has attacked Senator Ted Kennedy for endorsing Barack Obama. The chapter has called the Senator's action, [...]
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    Posted: January 30, 2008, 6:55pm EST

  • I'm sure he gets better advice than I can give...

    but I do not understand why Senator Obama highlights relatively innocuous aspects of Hillary Clinton's history like service on Wal-Mart's board (is that a crime?) when there is such a host of transgressions to choose from.

    Ms. Clinton burst on to the national scene when she insulted American women [...]
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    Posted: January 26, 2008, 12:13pm EST

  • Yes, but when was he presidential?

    I am captivated by the chorus of disapproval concerning former President Bill Clinton's recent speechmaking. When Senator Ted Kennedy is unhappy with the Clintons, you know it's a special time.

    I am also puzzled though. Many have criticized Mr. Clinton's bare-knuckled comments to promote his wife's candidacy as "un-presidential" [...]
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    Posted: January 23, 2008, 8:40pm EST

  • Here's a toast to South Carolina

    The Palmetto state makes me proud tonight. Dum Spiro Spero (while I breathe, I hope).

    Consider the beginning to tonight's Republican debate in Myrtle Beach - a chorus of men in suits and women in lovely white dresses, all singing the Star Spangled Banner. My, how radical.

    If' [...]
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    Posted: January 10, 2008, 8:28pm EST

  • State of Wisconsin flubs identity handling (redux)

    Haven't we seen this movie before?

    The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported today that a state mailing may have compromised the identities of thousands of Wisconsinites because of Social Security numbers that were inadvertently printed on mailing labels.

    I published a column last year in the Milwaukee Journal [...]
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    Posted: January 09, 2008, 1:10pm EST

  • See you at the summit!

    [...]
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    Posted: January 07, 2008, 7:07pm EST

  • Being selective about choice (when it suits you)

    Yesterday’s blog post from Patrick McIlheran is spot on.

    Teachers unions and their ilk, often exalt a right to choice. I think some of the choices they promote include secular or free-from-faith learning environments, politically correct curricula, etc. OK, fine. (They also choose to fight performance standards intended [...]
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    Posted: January 05, 2008, 12:47pm EST

  • Repudiation!

    It's simply the only appropriate word to describe Hillary Clinton's third place finish in Iowa tonight. The leading spender finishes third. [...]
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    Posted: January 03, 2008, 9:36pm EST

  • News flash - Hillary Clinton declares cause of US debt

    Hillary Clinton has now identified "Republicans" as the sole cause of America's national debt. Yes, it's all a vast right wing piracy.

    Stumping yesterday in Maquoketa, Iowa in town hall style, Ms. Clinton addressed the causes of America's political, social and economic woes and explained them all with one [...]
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    Posted: December 30, 2007, 4:54pm EST

  • Go see The Kite Runner

    My family and I usually go to the theatre this time of year and yesterday I jumped into the car with no advanced knowledge of what movie we were going to see.

    I rarely recommend a new film because I believe that so few are worth seeing, however, I [...]
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    Posted: December 28, 2007, 3:29am EST

  • Anti-Hillary sentiment and the facts

    Someone named Lisa (Posted by: lisa December 8, 2007 11:29 PM ) doubts the veracity of my remarks concerning popular opposition to Hillary Clinton - which I made reference to in my post on Bill Moyers' blog.

    The distrust, dislike and polarizing features of Ms. Clinton's candidacy [...]
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    Posted: December 24, 2007, 11:11am EST

  • Ron Paul on Glenn Beck's TV program tonight...

    We now know that Dr. Paul's supporters include those who accused TV host Glenn Beck of treason, those who threatened Mr. Beck's life and those claiming that the US Government perpetrated the horrors of 9/11.

    These people do not represent a plurality of Dr. Paul's supporters and he [...]
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    Posted: December 18, 2007, 8:48pm EST

  • MEET THE LESS

    Tim Russert remains one of my favorite television journalists of all time. He's tough, always prepared and fair to everyone he interviews. Today, however, he disappoints this fan. He has an hour, one-on-one with Mitt Romney and how does he use the first 24 minutes?

    Mr. Russert spent [...]
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    Posted: December 16, 2007, 9:34am EST

  • After watching Bill Moyers Journal - I posted on his blog...

    Mr. Moyers,

    Your dialogue with Ms. Jamieson suggests that you are genuinely astonished at all of the vitriol surrounding Hillary Clinton. While I do not approve of all of it - I understand where much of it comes from.

    It's not related to gender or politics. Men and [...]
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    Posted: December 08, 2007, 5:24am EST

  • CNN & YouTube for a presidential debate?

    For many of us, these presidential debates represent the best and worst that you'll ever see on television. That's why they are so intriguing.

    The person-on-the-street question-to-the-candidate(s) on the large screen for tonight's debate - is fine. It's actually a nice departure from a panel of over-exposed TV journalists [...]
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    Posted: November 28, 2007, 7:55pm EST

  • A Wisconsin assembly bill worth supporting...

    I copy below excerpts from a broadcast message I received from the FreedomWorks organization [www.freedomworks.org]

    Chairman, Dick Armey says...

    Thanks in part to your efforts, the Wisconsin Senate recently passed the pro-competition Wisconsin Video Competition Act. Now the Assembly needs to act in order to bring [...]
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    Posted: November 28, 2007, 6:36pm EST

  • Party affiliation matters

    Ron Paul hedged recently when asked whether he'd support the Republican nominee, regardless of who it might be (and it's a safe bet it won't be him).

    In essence, Mr. Paul replied that his support would wholly depend upon the candidate's willingness to end the war and other positions [...]
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    Posted: November 25, 2007, 12:42pm EST

  • So, do you like financial humor?

    If so, please check out this month's "back story" from the November issue of Conde Nast Portfolio magazine. The piece I refer to is called the "2005 SUBPRIME-MORTGAGE APPLICATION" Note the free bank check at the bottom of the page with inscription on center reading, "DUPLICATE AS NEEDED"

    [...]
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    Posted: November 05, 2007, 8:31pm EST

  • Explosive irony

    I heard from an American Muslim who was troubled by my September 20, 2007 column, "National security vs. civil liberty in America" My reply to the individual follows...

    "I appreciate your thoughtful reply and I apologize for the length of time it has taken me to respond.

    Before [...]
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    Posted: October 20, 2007, 9:07am EDT

  • National security vs. civil liberty in America

    Published: Sept. 20, 2007 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    It is a solemn anniversary each year, the kind where you hold your breath hoping that you won't hear a news report about a terrorist bombing or some other horrific act. I'm talking, of course, about Sept. 11, a date that will [...]
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    Posted: September 20, 2007, 6:06pm EDT

  • Money laundering spammeisters

    Can you name the most visible and common, criminal solicitation in the world?

    For me it is those e-mails that come daily and are filed automatically in my junk e-mail folder. The subject headings are generic (like "GOOD DAY") so they don't get auto-filtered at the mail server, but [...]
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    Posted: August 19, 2007, 9:47am EDT

  • An e-mail response to the editorial board at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Their question to readers:

    Would you be willing to pay a higher sales tax on gasoline to pay for bridge maintenance and replacement?

    My reply...

    Dear Editorial Board,

    My answer is no I would not and it’s the phrasing of your question that might draw scrutiny [...]
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    Posted: August 04, 2007, 1:31pm EDT

  • Don't believe the doomsday predictions about newspapers

    Published July 29, 2007 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Here's hoping that some things never change. The Civil War memorial statues on Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee, no stadium naming rights to Lambeau Field and the Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa will all, with God's good grace, remain unaltered in my lifetime.
    [...]
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    Posted: July 29, 2007, 10:03am EDT

  • Still weary about our punitive state tax burden

    Published July 5, 2007 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Watching our state's political budget process is not easy. There are so many additional taxes - and some with such vast implications - all under discussion at once. One billion, 2 billion, 3 billion, 15 billion: all numbers I have seen to [...]
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    Posted: July 17, 2007, 9:44am EDT

  • Valor worth commemorating

    Published 5.31.2007 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    "Why write about something that happened 12 years ago?"

    So went part of a reader's e-mail critique of one of my prior columns. To some, there is little value today in citing dates, events or people from a mere decade ago, let alone [...]
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    Posted: May 31, 2007, 2:57pm EDT

  • Celebrities' political preening

    Published: May 4, 2007 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    If the entertainment elite could remove the words "decorum" or "credentials" from Webster's Dictionary, many of them would assuredly do so.

    Consider Sheryl Crow's April 21 performance during the White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington. Crow decided to accost presidential [...]
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    Posted: May 04, 2007, 1:32pm EDT

  • Delafield's buildings proposal was prudent

    Published: April 9, 2007, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    Delafield is an idyllic space with rolling hills, an expansive state park, pristine lakes and charming Williamsburg architecture. It is safe, clean and free of ills that plague larger cities. The last recorded homicide in the city occurred more than 11 years [...]
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    Posted: April 15, 2007, 9:27am EDT

  • Don't read more into war opposition than what's there

    Published: March 20, 2007 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    "Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser . . . the very thought of losing is hateful to an American."

    So goes the famous quote from Gen. George S. Patton's 1944 D-Day address to his troops. That quote [...]
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    Posted: March 20, 2007, 4:29pm EDT
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