Metro Milwaukee Today

• What it means to be conservative over the pond.

  Andrew Sullivan over at The Daily Dish has the story of what conservatism could be (but won’t) here in the United States, inclusive, and on the rise in the polls. This truly is a tale of two conservatisms. In America, a core plank of the Republican party is fear and loathing [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2009, 1:19pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Milwaukee to host Water Summit

  This week the downtown Hyatt Regency hotel will host a major water conference. The sessions will deal with Lake Michigan fisheries, invasive species, harmful algae blooms and climate change. Discussion will also center on water levels, beach restoration and cleaning up contaminated sediment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the University of Wisconsin [...]
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  Posted: September 28, 2009, 8:18pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• An Interview With a Candidate

  Number of comments: 1
  Recently the Politics Desk had the opportunity to sit down with independent candidate for Governor, Sherwin Hughes of Milwaukee. 1. Why do you want to be Governor? We are in a period of great transition—Nationally, politically, and socially. There is no time like the present to present my thoughts and ideas [...]
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  Posted: September 22, 2009, 3:07pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Is The American Dream Dead?

  An interesting point of view from one the fly-over states, I didn’t realize, however, that a rare opportunity to stay in a ritzy hotel in Washington this summer would also be exposing them to elitism at its core. In our tourist attire, we stood out like sore thumbs. Women in polished high [...]
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  Posted: September 19, 2009, 4:50pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• We Can’t Cut Spending?

  That is what former Reagan administration official Bruce Bartlett says in a wonderfully honest editorial on Forbes.com His central idea is absolutely correct, much of our yearly spending comes from mandatory entitlement programs, that while politically popular, effective, and mostly enacted by Democratic President’s, they are in urgent need of reform. [...]
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  Posted: September 19, 2009, 2:52pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• We Can’t Cut Spending?

  That is what former Reagan administration official Bruce Bartlett says in a wonderfully honest editorial on Forbes.com His central idea is absolutely correct, much of our yearly spending comes from mandatory entitlement programs, that while politically popular, effective, and mostly enacted by Democratic President’s, they are in urgent need of reform. [...]
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  Posted: September 19, 2009, 2:52pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Take the Anti-Socialist Pledge!

  Number of comments: 1
  A great that that Jim over at The Political Environment found, I, ________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following: I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this [...] [...]
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  Posted: September 19, 2009, 11:10am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Recession may be nearing end as retail sales climb upward

  The Business Journal, receiving its report from the National Retail Federation, notes that retail sales (not including car sales) have went up in the past month. This comes on the same day that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that the recession that has hit the United States for almost [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 5:13pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• After many months, State Assembly plans to push forward new drunken driving laws

  This week a package of legislation enhancing and creating new laws on drunken driving is expected to pass the State Assembly. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s coverage on the issue via their “Wasted in Wisconsin” series made the issue of drunk driving in the state a top priority to be remedied. [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 5:05pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• An Open Question

  Here is an open question to all MMT readers, how do we fix the racial achievement gap in south-east Wisconsin? “The size and stability of the regional achievement gap certainly is cause for concern,” says Forum President Rob Henken. “Southeastern Wisconsin’s school districts are a reflection of the state. And we [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 4:36pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• A reminder that we must still be vigilant.

  From Queens, The massive FBI probe that triggered raids in Queens is focused on a Denver-based terror cell plotting another attack on the scale of 9/11, the Daily News learned Tuesday. Hundreds of FBI agents are on the ground in Colorado, conducting round-the-clock surveillance on five suspects - including a man who [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 4:28pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Health Care in a Visual Nutshell

  MadCityMan and our friends over at BloggingBlue.com have a great little Ross Perot like chart explaining Health Care reform. (Click to expand) Share and Enjoy:   [...]
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  Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:23pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Cook says WI House delegation to Stay the same

  Charlie Cook the preeminent political analyst has released his 2010 mid-term update for the House of Representatives and it appears at least at this time that there are no competitive races in Wisconsin. None of Wisconsin’s congressional seats made the latest Cook Political Report list of toss ups for 2010. The report [...]
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  Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:09pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• New Poll Shows Wide Support for Health Reform

  If President Obama can pitch his plan in more events like today’s in Minneapolis, he can get it done. Share and Enjoy:   [...]
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  Posted: September 12, 2009, 3:28pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• We Remember

  Share and Enjoy:   [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 10:58am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• A Home Run

  The President did what needed to be done last night, he gave a clear concise response to the August from Hell the Democrats have endured, after last night there will be some sort of meaningful healthcare reform passed, and the Politics Desk predicts will be passed and signed into law [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 4:16pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Another Franklin food store closing?

  Number of comments: 1
  Several Franklin residents contacted me earlier today with a concern about another local and longstanding Franklin business. According to them, shoppers at Sentry Foods on 76th & Rawson were being told by employees that they received notices that the store was closing. This particular grocer has had its fair share of [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 1:23pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• A President’s communication to schoolchildren

  President Obama gave a fine speech that urged kids to work hard and stay in school and I’m glad that New Berlin Public Schools broadcast it live Tuesday morning. Of course, it’s not the first time a president had directed a message to the nation’s children. MSNBC.com lists some previous presidents’ efforts and [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 9:56am EDT
  by Linda Richter

• 2012 viral campaign moves to TV ads

  For the past several months, Sony Pictures has been working on a viral campaign, or Internet background story, for the upcoming blockbuster movie 2012, due out in theaters November 13th. The campaign has included a site for a non-existent company called the IHC, or Institute for Human Continuity. Their primary [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 1:51am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Palin P’wned

  Number of comments: 1
  Share and Enjoy:   [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 10:15pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Cudahy backs out of UWM’s Tosa site

  Days after UWM decided to pull away from the Pieces of Eight site for their new School of Freshwater Sciences, area philanthropist Michael Cudahy made the decision to yank funding support for UWM’s new engineering school on the Milwaukee County Grounds in Wauwatosa. Cudahy made an investment in the Pieces [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 1:21pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Wisconsinites support Health Care Reform

  Number of comments: 1
  H/T to MadCityMan at Blogging Blue, One of the Politics Desk’s favorite sites, fivethirtyeight.com has a great analysis of support for the public option by congressional district, 1. “Six polls reveal a strong relationship between the public option and support for Barack Obama last November.” 2. “There also appears to be a [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 12:40pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Health Care Reform Debate for Dummies (Part 3)

  Please keep in mind that no health care system is one size fits all. You can mix and match the best practices of any successful system and adapt them to how they would work for you. [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 11:51am EDT
  by The Bus Bandit

• Obama actually a social-conservative?!?!

  So just when the right wing would want you to believe that Obama is a socialistmarxistmuslimcommunistfascistnazi, a close look at his education “indoctrination” speech yesterday tells a very different story, “When we strive to help our children become responsible persons we are helping them toward maturity.” “And that’s what I want to [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 11:35am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Health Care Reform Debate for Dummies (Part 2)

  It is without question that men, women, children and the elderly are needlessly suffering and dying under our current health care system. We have the means to do something about it, but will we ever feel the urgency and find the will to do something about it? [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 11:27am EDT
  by The Bus Bandit

• Health Care Reform Debate for Dummies (Part 1)

  According to Wikipedia: “The debate over health care reform in the United States centers on questions of a right (moral obligation) to health care, access, fairness, the quality achieved for the high sums spent, and the sustainability of expenditures that have been rising faster than the level of general inflation [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 11:11am EDT
  by The Bus Bandit

• Reason #45,383 Robert Gibbs is awesome

  WH Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is great. Share and Enjoy:   [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 10:59am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• What Obama has to do.

  The President addresses the joint session of congress ~9 hours from now, he has had a terrible august, he has seen his poll numbers drop, angry protesters storming town hall meetings across the country, and a divided dysfunctional Congress, with Blue Dog Democrats feuding with Progressive Democrats. Yet this President still [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 10:02am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Tell me Robin Vos…

  So when 51% of Milwaukee County voters agree to a .5% sales tax, suburban legislators have veto power?? Vos, a staunch advocate for referenda in the case of sales tax increases, says this new hike will be placed on families at a time when they can least afford it. Doyle says [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 9:35am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Finally some sense on the debt ceiling

  The Economist clears through the doom and gloom regarding the debt ceiling, Just having a quick glance, three things stand out to me. The first is that among developed nations, America’s level of debt per capita is pretty small, and it remains small relative to other developed nations in 2010 and [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 9:22am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Elmbrook School District’s decision on Obama’s speech goes national

  This morning Elmbrook Superintendent Dr. Matt Gibson had what Brookfield blogger Cindy Kilkenny dubbed his “15 minutes of fame“. He was interviewed by Fox News Channel in front of Brookfield Central High School as students arrived to school this morning. This is in response to Elmbrook taking center stage in [...]
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  Posted: September 08, 2009, 12:39pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• New Berlin Public Schools goes against the grain by airing President’s message

  According to its Web site, on Tuesday at 11 am, the New Berlin School District will be airing a live broadcast of President Obama’s  message to school children about the importance of working hard and staying in school.   Click here for the superintendent’s Sept. 3 letter addressed to parents Click here for the board [...]
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  Posted: September 06, 2009, 1:27pm EDT
  by Linda Richter

• Wither Afghanistan?

  Insightful and interesting voices from the Washington Times and Chuck Hagel today regarding the war in Afghanistan. I tend to disagree with these writers, while I agree we cannot have a unlimited commitment in Afghanistan, we are at a crossroads in terms of what can be done to contain the [...]
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  Posted: September 05, 2009, 1:54pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Wither Afghanistan?

  Insightful and interesting voices from the Washington Times and Chuck Hagel today regarding the war in Afghanistan. I tend to disagree with these writers, while I agree we cannot have a unlimited commitment in Afghanistan, we are at a crossroads in terms of what can be done to contain the [...]
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  Posted: September 05, 2009, 1:54pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Bachmann Discovers the plot!!!

  Number of comments: 2
  Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Crazyland) apparently has uncovered the vast Democratic and liberal plot against her, and Sarah Palin. “They want to make sure no women, no woman becomes president before a Democrat woman, and so they’re doing everything they can to, I think, sabotage women like Sarah Palin, perhaps women like [...]
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  Posted: September 05, 2009, 10:43am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Run Ron run!!

  Rep. Ron Kind was interviewed by WisPolitics.com recently and made some comments that could easily turn into a three point plan for WI. “But what I’m focused on is really where we need to go as a state and what the agenda ought to look like. Because I think there’s been [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2009, 4:38pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Rural and Milwaukee Democrats team up to help business.

  Let the pro-business Democrat rein continue, today Peter Barca (D-Kenosha), Mark Radcliffe (D-Black River Falls), and Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee) and Senators Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa), Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point), and Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) announced major and quite ambitious plan to expand the state cap-gains exclusions, a move that if passed [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2009, 4:25pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Livin’ in a business paradise.

  Steve Jagler over at On Milwaukee.com sets the record straight, after years (decades) of conservatives in Madison and suburban talk radio telling us that Wisconsin is a tax hellhole ( despite that 14 years of Republican government…) it turns out that we might not be so bad after all. “New Brunswick [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 9:31pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Annnnd We’re Back!

  Sorry about that all, we had some major sever issues here at MMT, but never fear we are back in the saddle and blogging recommensus soon! Share and Enjoy:   [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 9:23pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Edward Moore Kennedy, February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009

  Ted Kennedy died last night, the last of the liberal New Deal lions in the Senate is gone, after running against President Carter in the 1980 Democratic primaries, and coming up short in the delegate count, he gave the speech of his career at the Democratic National Convention in New [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2009, 10:12am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Belling Strikes again!

  Number of comments: 3
  Mark Belling, the right-wing drivel machine over at WISN-AM has struck again in his most unclassiest way, this time striking out at fellow MMT blogger Linda Richter, “Out in New Berlin the teachers union is starting a whispering campaign to trash the school superintendent. The person behind all of this is [...]
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  Posted: August 25, 2009, 11:38am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Pabst Farms developer could get ratings cut

  Fox Business News is reporting that Developers Diversified Realty, the developer who replaced bankrupted General Growth Properties as the developer of the Pabst Farms Town Centre, could be getting a ratings cut by Moody’s. Moody’s Investors Service said Monday that it may downgrade Developers Diversified Realty Corp. if the real estate [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 5:31pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Kudos to BizTimes’ Steve Jagler

  While other media outlets are focusing mostly on how in the world Mercury Marine’s union workers voted to ax their jobs, BizTimes.com’s Executive Editor has the answers. Jagler points out several key points that led to the union workers deciding to simply keep the contract as-is rather than take significant [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 5:17pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Zoo interchange threatens the future of rail.

  That is what a wonderful commentary in the Journal-Sentinel says. The Zoo Interchange EIS should include high-speed rail from Milwaukee to Madison, metro rail between Milwaukee and Waukesha and an intercity rail line from downtown to the County Grounds in Wauwatosa. Otherwise the new interchange will pave over future rail right-of-ways. The [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 10:48am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• The GOP wants no health reform at all.

  Number of comments: 2
  As I have been suspecting for quite a while now, it doesn’t appear that the GOP wants to hand President Obama any sort of legislative victory, now even dropping the public option isn’t good enough for them. Republicans are pressing to reduce the size of tax credits for families with incomes [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 10:29am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• How Gay Marriage will ruin America,

  The Daily Dish lets us into the mind of Maggie Gallagher, President of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy. She posts a pretty pathetic list of what may happen if Gays can get married over at the National Review. 1. In gay-marriage states, a large minority people committed to traditional [...]
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  Posted: August 20, 2009, 10:16pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Center is the new left

  At least that’s what the Economist thinks, If you’re watching this spectacle on TV, then you’re seeing a lot of rings two and three, and you may not realise that moderates are so far winning the fight over health-care policy. By pitting Barack Obama and his moderate allies in Congress against [...]
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  Posted: August 19, 2009, 11:37am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Zoo Interchange deterioration leads to caps on truckload weight

  Number of comments: 1
  The Zoo Interchange, with a proposal by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation which has its reconstruction reaching up to a massive $2.3 billion to accomplish, seems to have a pretty big problem. Several of the interchange’s bridges that connect one freeway to the other are deteriorating to the point where [...]
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  Posted: August 19, 2009, 12:46am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• God Bless the 115th

  Next month over 200 members of the Wisconsin National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing will leave for combat operations in Iraq. The 115th will deploy its Aviation Package, which includes a number of F-16 Fighting Falcons as well as pilots, aircraft maintenance specialists and support personnel as part of their scheduled Air [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 10:58pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Marshall Plan for Africa?

  Number of comments: 1
  Africa is the worlds poorest continent, and corruption, graft, and religious strife has made it a breeding ground for terrorism, with some nations quickly becoming the next Afghanistan. Foreign Policy calls for a Marshall plan for Africa to open up the markets there, and hopefully save the continent from a dark [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 10:42pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• The worlds worst health care reforms.

  Foreign Policy magazine lists the worlds worst health care reforms, on the list, China, Turkmenistan, Russia, and of course the United States. Americans spend around one in every six dollars on healthcare. But, in aggregate, they’re not getting much bang for their buck. People in the United States are as likely [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 10:16pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Favre has arrived in Minneapolis and inked a deal with the Vikings

  The news outlets in Minneapolis and throughout Wisconsin have been abuzz this morning about a jet belonging to the Minnesota Vikings picking up Brett and Deanna Favre from Mississippi. This came after Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer offered his opinion of the situation: If I were a betting man, I’d swear Brett [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 1:39pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• The Hoan debate rages on

  UrbanMilwaukee.com’s Jeramey Jannene offers up another unique perspective on the future of the former “Bridge to Nowhere”. Jannene’s perspective takes up an angle that could be both appealing to those seeking redevelopment on parcels taken up by the freeway and those wanting easy access to Downtown Milwaukee from the south [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 11:59am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Tax-credits for attracting businesses works again.

  A Michigan health care and office furniture company announced today that it is consolidating its operations in Sheboygan, with the help of Wisconsin’s generous tax credits to small and medium sized businesses. The company will receive a $500,000 loan and up to $750,000 in economic development tax credits to assist with [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 1:12am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Nation could learn from the Marshfield Clinic

  The Marshfield Clinic a major medical operation in North-western Wisconsin with over 45 care centers, has been given a little national attention. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has commended for improving quality of medical care, while keeping costs stable. Marshfield Clinic has made substantial investments to develop needed tools [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 12:49am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Libertarians say make ‘em Legal! (for the $)

  At least that’s what the CATO institute says, In contrast, legalization of low-skilled immigrant workers would yield significant income gains for American workers and households. Legalization would eliminate smugglers’ fees and other costs faced by illegal immigrants. It would also allow immigrants to have higher productivity and create more openings for [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 12:26am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Cops for Drug Legalization?

  That is what two retired Police officers say in an editorial in the WaPo today. Drug users generally aren’t violent. Most simply want to be left alone to enjoy their high. It’s the corner slinger who terrifies neighbors and invites rivals to attack. Public drug dealing creates an environment where disputes [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 12:18am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Thoughts, Prayers, and Support are with Mayor Tom Barrett

  Number of comments: 1
  Metro Milwaukee Today joins with many others in the metropolitan area in wishing for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s speedy recovery. Fortunately the perp who did the thugish deed is now under arrest and awaiting his fate. In light of Barrett’s courage to risk his life (literally) for others, it wouldn’t [...]
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  Posted: August 17, 2009, 9:51am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• “It would be as if Churchill claimed the attack on Gallipoli forced the Turks to surrender.”

  Number of comments: 2
  The quote is priceless, and it comes from Waukesha conservative blogger and Waukesha Freeman columnist James Wigderson. His quote is in regards to the “triumph” that Wisconsinites Interests Now (WIN) and Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) are having over Doyle’s decision to not seek a third term in 2010. Apparently [...]
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  Posted: August 17, 2009, 7:37am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Sometimes they don’t want input from Community Members

  Although New Berlin School Board policy emphasizes SCHOOLS ARE FOR STUDENTS and SCHOOLS BELONG TO THE PEOPLE (in capital letters, no less), too often the New Berlin School District & Board has shut out students/the public and not welcomed their input on important matters/decisions. Some examples: Parents/district residents (the general public) were [...]
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  Posted: August 15, 2009, 4:04pm EDT
  by Linda Richter

• Governor Doyle will not seek third term in 2010

  Number of comments: 2
  It has come out today that Governor Jim Doyle has decided not to run again for a 4-year term as Wisconsin’s leader in 2010. This information first appeared on the political website Politico, which then landed on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Mike Tate refused [...]
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  Posted: August 15, 2009, 3:30pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• BREAKING: Mayoral Takeover of MPS Pushed.

  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that Gov. Jim Doyle, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett have begun discussions into a mayoral takeover of the Milwaukee Public Schools system. This move will likely provoke an emotional and spirited debate within the city of Milwaukee, and could have potential implications on the 2010 [...]
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  Posted: August 14, 2009, 1:05am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Government Involvement in Health Care

  Number of comments: 2
  Thank the government if you currently have decent health insurance. —-says Nobel prize winner, professor of economics, author, editor, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. That may puzzle some folks. Some  people even vehemently object to the government getting involved in health care and label it socialism. But Krugman clearly believes health reform is being hindered [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 10:21pm EDT
  by Linda Richter

• Al Lasee gets challenger in SD 1, Suburban Assembly rumors!

  Up in the Valley, Kimberly doctor Montgomery “Monk” Elmer has filed paperwork to run in the 1st Senate District against veteran GOP incumbent Sen. Al Lasee. “He’s a hard-working guy. He’s going to fight like heck to win this seat. He’s already out there talking to voters, doing the things he’s [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 3:59pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• In the middle of Rush and Michael Moore?

  Paul Begala brings some homespun common sense to the Washington Post. And yet I think my fellow progressives ought to give Max Baucus and other members of the Senate Finance Committee a little breathing room as they labor to produce a health-care bill that can garner enough votes to pass the [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 3:14pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Bomb Burma with Big Macs! (and Havanna too!)

  Can ending sanctions on the oppressive Burmese regime bring about a western friendly Democracy? There is, of course, an element of self-interest to this. But many Asian politicians genuinely believe that Western policy is misguided. In their part of the world, economic development is the priority. Democracy comes second, if at [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 2:52pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Car dealerships along 27th Street could see some life once again

  Thanks to reports from the Journal Sentinel, it looks like several former car dealerships lining S. 27th Street in southern Milwaukee could be getting active again, either as new dealerships or otherwise. For two of these now-empty parcels of land, help and rehabilitation could come thanks in part to a [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 2:50pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Forgive Me, I Have Standards and Expectations.

  Number of comments: 8
  I received some criticism over the past couple of weeks on Twitter for my views and opinions on Milwaukee's Social Scene, Michael Vick, Women Who Aggressively Pursue Men, and my continuing direct challenge to Partisan Politics. I digested the responses of all of my supporters and critics equally. Now allow [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 4:32am EDT
  by The Bus Bandit

• Mark Belling is dangerous and ignorant.

  Number of comments: 2
  Hat tip to James Rowen over at the Political Environment. Conservative talker Mark Belling had a field day with the health care town hall forum staged by Rep. Gwen Moore D-Milwaukee that occurred yesterday on at North Division High School in the inner city. (hat tip to Zach at Blogging Blue) Here’s [...]
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  Posted: August 12, 2009, 10:08pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• ‘10 Immigration reform a Machiavellian Obama plot?!?

  Number of comments: 1
  The Economist thinks so, “maybe introducing an immigration bill in spring 2010 and having it dominate the headlines in the summer of a mid-term election year would be great for Democrats. As the Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court confirmation battle showed, the overwhelmingly white conservative core of the Republican Party can be [...]
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  Posted: August 12, 2009, 9:53pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Newfound group fights to preserve the Hoan

  Number of comments: 1
  Ever since the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce asked the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for a review of all options regarding the future of the Hoan Bridge, several Milwaukee County Supervisors have begun to fight back. The goal for them is to ensure that the Hoan is preserved for residents [...]
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  Posted: August 10, 2009, 1:20am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• An Interview with the Chair of the Brown County Democratic Party

  Number of comments: 1
  Over the weekend the Politics Desk had the pleasure of speaking with Tom Sieber, the chair of the Brown County Democratic party, we spoke about a number of issues, mainly life in the electoral battleground that is northeast Wisconsin. The Politics Desk: What sort of problems or difficulties have you found [...]
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  Posted: August 09, 2009, 9:11pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Another chain restaurant plans to expand in Milwaukee

  A West Coast deli/eatery is planning an entry into Wisconsin in the coming months. San Francisco Sourdough Eatery, a chain based in Idaho, has Wisconsin tagged as part of its expansion plans to grow to over 100 locations. The Business Journal has all the coverage relating to this announcement. Based on [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 1:14pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Another chain restaurant plans to expand in Milwaukee

  A West Coast deli/eatery is planning an entry into Wisconsin in the coming months. San Francisco Sourdough Eatery, a chain based in Idaho, has Wisconsin tagged as part of its expansion plans to grow to over 100 locations. The Business Journal has all the coverage relating to this announcement. Based on [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 1:14pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Can the Pieces of Eight site have the best of both worlds?

  Number of comments: 2
  For many months the site that the former Pieces of Eight restaurant operated off of has been considered as the future UWM School of Freshwater Sciences. This received flak from some Milwaukeeians who’d still like to be able to dine along Lake Michigan. Now both sides of the aisle might [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 11:51am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• NRCC Targets 3 WI Dems

  Today the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) released its annual list of targeted Democrat and open House seats in advance of the 2010 midterm elections. The NRCC lists three Wisconsin Democrats targeted for defeat, Rep. Ron Kind D-La Crosse,  Rep Dave Obey D-Wausau, and Rep. Steve Kagen D-Appleton. While one has to [...]
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  Posted: August 06, 2009, 10:54am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• When will the “Great Recession” End?

  Number of comments: 1
  Maybe soon, maybe not, depending on which economist you talk to, oh, and your defintion of “recession” and “end”. Share and Enjoy:   [...]
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  Posted: August 05, 2009, 11:08pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• A sign of trouble to come?

  Number of comments: 2
  Here is an interesting bit of news from Political Wire “Polls today in Virginia and New Jersey apparently show Republicans are significantly more motivated right now than Democrats, especially when it comes to voting in their state’s gubernatorial elections this fall. The samples from each poll show higher percentages of Republican voters [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 9:34pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Artwork at Ridge Cinemas excites theater patrons and promotes movies

  Ridge Cinemas offers much more than the latest movies. It has rental facilities for meetings, church services, birthday parties, and other events. Often, some really cool artwork by Mike Cairns is on display, such as these  examples of Ridge Cinemas window art that showcased the animated film “UP” and the comic [...]
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  Posted: July 30, 2009, 7:06pm EDT
  by Linda Richter

• Obama’s meeting over a beer is on!

  So we definitely need to know from you, the MMT reader: Who drank the better beer at today’s meeting/sit down for a beer at the White House tonight? Let us know by voting in this non-scientific poll! Share and Enjoy:   [...]
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  Posted: July 30, 2009, 6:19pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• It looks like a phone outage struck the area

  It started coming in on Twitter from Milwaukee-area businesses, including Sendik’s Food Market - the phones are out. Brookfield blogger Cindy Kilkenny also observed that something was going on, and asked the question: Is it out? Apparently so, which is a little setback for the day for some Time Warner [...]
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  Posted: July 30, 2009, 6:02pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• A few simple (read complex) ideas on reducing crime in Wisconsin.

  Number of comments: 1
  I was reading the Journal-Sentinel this morning, when I came across the story of an 18 year old Milwaukee man who along with four other teenagers savagely beat an elderly man, making him loose an eye in the process. The article went on to talk about how one of the boys [...]
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  Posted: July 30, 2009, 11:15am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Star Tribune blog reports Favre to stay retired

  A columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that Brett Favre will remain retired instead of becoming a Minnesota Viking. The writer is citing a source who spoke to Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress in his report. If this is confirmed, the Green Bay Packers won’t have to [...]
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  Posted: July 28, 2009, 4:20pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• More JS buyouts mean a lot less for readers

  Several Journal Sentinel reporters today accepted the latest round of buyouts from the newspaper, who has been struggling since last year and has gone through several buyouts and layoffs in the process. Among those departing the Journal Sentinel is popular TV & Radio columnist Tim Cuprisin, who started working for [...]
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  Posted: July 28, 2009, 4:05pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• MPD to be beefed up with stimulus $.

  The Obama administration announced today a $10.3 million dollar grant to the Milwaukee Police Department for the hiring and re-hiring of over 50 officers. This is quite simply wonderful news for the department, while overall violent crime is down in the city, homicide continues to plague neighborhoods in the central city, [...]
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  Posted: July 28, 2009, 12:08pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• State Senator Lazich’s aide under fire twice in two weeks!

  Earlier today Franklin blogger Fred Keller wrote a piece on State Senator Mary Lazich’s aide, Kevin Fischer, continuing to mock and degrade newly elected School Board member Janet Evans on his FranklinNOW.com blog. In a comment posted 4 days ago on Fischer’s blog post referring to the “screwing” of Franklin [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2009, 3:02pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• The NBPS sex/threat scandal

  Number of comments: 2
  I know of no bigger or worse scandal involving New Berlin Public Schools than the one concerning Anthony Stancl, the New Berlin Eisenhower student who allegedly deceived students into sending nude photos of themselves to him, which he then used to blackmail the students into engaging in sex acts. Stancl has also [...]
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  Posted: July 23, 2009, 9:37am EDT
  by Linda Richter

• Hooter’s owl may be seen after all in Brookfield

  Number of comments: 1
  After several months of controversy, the city staff in Brookfield will be recommending that Hooter’s ability to display its trademark owl on the outside facade of its new restaurant be permitted. The subject will come before Brookfield’s Plan Review Board this Thursday for approval. This comes in light of previous [...]
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  Posted: July 23, 2009, 12:35am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Cudahy movie theater moves one step closer to reality

  The Cudahy Common Council is on tap to approve of a $1.73 million project to convert the former Kohl’s Food Store on Kinnickinnic Avenue into a 4-screen upscale movie theater. With the approval would come $525,000 from the south shore suburb for items such as environmental cleanup. However, the expenditure [...]
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  Posted: July 23, 2009, 11:47pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Good Pragmatic Ideas

  Here is a gem of an idea from Andrew Sullivan over at The Atlantic, The progressive blogosphere cannot understand those who oppose funding Barack Obama’s domestic agenda by levying a surtax on the rich. Rather than rehash the arguments against that plan, let me propose an alternative that should appeal to [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 10:29pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Menonomee Falls pushes hard for another corporate headquarters

  Butler-based Actuant Corporation is now moving their corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility to Menonomee Falls after the community agreed to an additional $3.1 million in tax incentives to lure the corporation in. The $24 million expansion equals the elimination of their facility in Glendale and their headquarters in Butler, which [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 4:57pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• Former Franklin School Board President charged with several thefts, including $880 from the Franklin Little League

  After several months of work done by the Franklin Police Department, a criminal complaint has been filed against former Franklin School Board member Rosann Lewandowski. While her past status as President of the Franklin Public School Board (Board of Education) was perhaps the biggest title she earned in local politics, [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 4:41pm EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• An Interview with Chris Liebenthal of Milwaukee County First

  Today is the first of what I hope is a series of interviews with the people that make Milwaukee and Wisconsin politics tick, the activists, organizers, and candidates that will influence the choices you make at the ballot box in 2010 and beyond. The First in our series is a chat [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 12:13pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• 40 years on…

  40 years ago we reached up and touched Heaven   [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 11:11pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Walker raises boatload of cash, but Doyle still has more.

  Number of comments: 1
  2010 is looking to be the most expensive Gubernatorial race in Wisconsin history, Milwaukee county executive Scott Walker released today his July continuing 2009 expense reports, showing him raising over $1 Million dollars so far in his campaign, and surprisingly having no outstanding debt. Governor Doyle on the other hand [...]
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  Posted: July 20, 2009, 12:29pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• The False Concept of Black Joblessness

  Number of comments: 2
  You can’t hire someone JUST because they are Black just like you can’t fire someone JUST because they are Black. Educational and Skill Development opportunities that lead to employment and higher income are a universal requirement. [...]
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  Posted: July 16, 2009, 1:24pm EDT
  by The Bus Bandit

• Okay… the fringe right is really loosing it.

  So this is the first in a series of weekly editorials for me, on my view of the world. I have to ask this week, exactly what the heck is going on with the fringe right?? In Virginia, Catherine Crabill the GOP nominee for the state legislature in the 99th district apparently [...]
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  Posted: July 16, 2009, 12:27pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• Petri pushes water and education reform, Obama investment helps rural wisconsin.

  First off today, yesterdays announcment of President Obama’s American Graduation Initiative will directly help Wisconsin, specifically the 13 UW Colleges campuses, and the Wisconsin Technical College System. In many areas of the state, the only higher education that a person is suitable for is through one of the Technical Colleges, or [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2009, 10:02pm EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl

• New grassroots organization formed to promote “Milwaukee County First”

  Today Milwaukee County Executive-turned-Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker could have an organization to be worried about. While Citizens for Responsible Government are still busy recalling Democrats, a new organization has appeared that could counter the CRG movement. The new group is called Milwaukee County First. Here is their first press [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2009, 11:49am EDT
  by Greg Kowalski

• “It’s Time”

  DNC Health Care Ad So the DNC has released a new ad highlighting Americans without health care and the need for it, it is an extremely effective ad from the same creative team that did most of the Obama campaign ads. Health care is gaining a momentum fast in Washington, and I [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2009, 10:16am EDT
  by Nicholas Reindl