Retiring Guy's Digest: 2012-11-11

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Apparently, Tonette Walker did not accompany her husband to the Reagan Library

At least she doesn't rate a mention from Daniel Bice.

Walker promises major tax reforms, school funding changes. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/17/2012)

Excerpt: The speech attracted a number of California conservatives, including former Gov. Pete Wilson. Walker was accompanied by [he looks very happy to see you] Diane Hendricks, owner of ABC Supply and a major GOP fundraiser. The Beloit billionaire paid nothing in state income taxes for 2010, the Journal Sentinel has reported.

Scott Walker Gets Shut Out Again in the 2016 Republican Presidential Sweepstakes

Handicapping the 2016 Presidential Field. (Washington Post, 11/7/2012, the day after the friggin' election.)

Republicans on Chris Cizilla's list

Chris Christie
Jeb Bush/Marco Rubio (the Florida dilemma)
Bobby Jindal
Paul Ryan (the "Jeb Bush factor" for Walker)
Paul Rand

Democrats

Hillary Clinton
Joe Biden
Andrew Cuomo
Martin O'Malley
Kirstin Gillibrand/Amy Klobuchar/Elizabeth Warren

I'm Sure Scott Walker Feels Left Out

[a.k.a. badgraphics.com]

Who Are the 2016 Republican Presidential Candidates?

Jeb Bush
Mike Huckabee
Marco Rubio
Paul Ryan
Sarah Palin
Chris Christie
Rand Paul

Bar Graphing the Results of the 2012 Presidential and U.S. Senate Elections in the City of Wausau, Its Surrounding Communities, and the rest of Marathon County Wisconsin

Vote totals:
Romney/Ryan - 36,568
Obama-Biden - 32,330

Vote totals:
Tommy Thompson - 34,638
Tammy Baldwin - 31,722

Romney-Thompson vote total difference: 1,930.

Obama-Baldwin vote total difference: 608.

The Marathon County results follow the general pattern, if not the specific percentages, of CNN's exit poll graphic.

"Surrounding communities"* include

Village of Kronenwetter (population 7,210)
Town of Rib Mountain (pop. 6,825)
Village of Rothschild (pop.5,269)
City of Schofield ([pop. 2,169)
Town of Stettin (pop. 2,554)
Village of Weston (pop. 14,868)

*Based on my limited first-hand knowledge of the geography and residential development of the Wausau area.

Hat tip to Marathon County Clerk Nan Kottke for making detailed election results available online so promptly.

Related posts:
City of Green Bay and Brown County Presidential & U.S. Senate election results. (11/17/2012)
City and County of Racine Presidential & U.S. Senate election results. (11/17/2012)
2012 Presidential election mapped. (11/16/2012)
Redistricting in Wisconsin: the plumber control the spigot. (11/15/2012)
Romney sez it's Christmas in November. (11/14/2012)
How young people (18-29) voted for President in 2012. (11/14/2012)
Meet the Optimizer, Larry Grisolano. (11/13/2012)
The really BIG money. (11/12/2012)
Money can't buy you happiness. (11/12/2012)
Eric Litke can't see the forest for the trees. (11/12/2012)
Yes, Frank, a methodology that puts Gallup solidly in last place for accuracy. (11/11/2012)
City of Middleton vs. Town of Middleton. (11/10/2012)
U.S. Rep. John Fleming sends a warning to Speaker Boehner. (11/10/2012)
How they voted in the Southwest Wisconsin Library System. (11/9/2012)
Romney's 1st slogan choice was "Let's get small". (11/9/2012)
How Brown, Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties pushed Tammy Baldwin to victory. (11/9/2012)
Comparing the results of the 2010 and 2012 elections in Wisconsin's 44th Assembly district. (11/8/2012)
From recall to Presidential elections: What a difference 5 months make. (11/8/2012)
States with the largest and smallest percentages of votes for Obama. (11/8/2012)
Hurricane Sandy and the New York/New Jersey voter turnout. (11/8/2012)
The GOP problem expressed in two quotes. (11/7/2012)
Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight Forecast and the election results. (11/7/2012)
Anointed front runner has a problem on the home front. (11/7/2012)
Thank you to the women of the U.S.A. (11/7/2012)
Nebraska and Indiana: the shame-faced members of the Big Ten. (11/7/2012)
The lonely blue: Nebraska's Thurston County. (11/7/2012)
Dear Republicans, meet your future. (11/7/2012)
You got that wrong! (11/6/2012)

Friday, November 16, 2012

It seems like geologic eons of time since Ron Johnson was elected our Senator

Too bad it doesn't have the same effect on his brain cells.

Photo sources: Wikipedia

Bill O'Reilly Feels the Heat

The Anti-Fox Gains Ground. (The New York Times, 11/11/2012)

Excerpt: During Mr. Obama’s first term, MSNBC underwent a metamorphosis from a CNN also-ran to the anti-Fox, and handily beat CNN in the ratings along the way. Now that it is known, at least to those who cannot get enough politics, as the nation’s liberal television network, the challenge in the next four years will be to capitalize on that identity.

Feelin' a little warm there, Bill-o.

.

Yes indeed, folks, this is an irony alert.

Head of Maine's GOP on the Hot Seat

Maine GOP Chair: ‘Unusual’ To See Black People Voting. (Talking Points Memo, 11/15/2012)

Excerpt: The head of Maine’s Republican Party defended himself on Thursday over comments he made about black people committing voter fraud in his state.

Bar Graphing the Results of the 2012 Presidential and U.S. Senate Elections in the City of Green Bay and Brown County Wisconsin

Totals: Romney/Ryan - 64,738; Obama/Biden - 62,433

Totals: Tommy Thompson - 61,738; Tammy Baldwin - 60,317

In all of Brown County, Tammy Baldwin, with 47.95% of the vote, ran a slightly closer race against Tommy Thompson (49.08%) than Barack Obama (48.50%) did against Mitt Romney (50.29%).

Related posts:
City and County of Racine Presidential & U.S. Senate election results. (11/17/2012)
2012 Presidential election mapped. (11/16/2012)
Redistricting in Wisconsin: the plumber control the spigot. (11/15/2012)
Romney sez it's Christmas in November. (11/14/2012)
How young people (18-29) voted for President in 2012. (11/14/2012)
Meet the Optimizer, Larry Grisolano. (11/13/2012)
The really BIG money. (11/12/2012)
Money can't buy you happiness. (11/12/2012)
Eric Litke can't see the forest for the trees. (11/12/2012)
Yes, Frank, a methodology that puts Gallup solidly in last place for accuracy. (11/11/2012)
City of Middleton vs. Town of Middleton. (11/10/2012)
U.S. Rep. John Fleming sends a warning to Speaker Boehner. (11/10/2012)
How they voted in the Southwest Wisconsin Library System. (11/9/2012)
Romney's 1st slogan choice was "Let's get small". (11/9/2012)
How Brown, Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties pushed Tammy Baldwin to victory. (11/9/2012)
Comparing the results of the 2010 and 2012 elections in Wisconsin's 44th Assembly district. (11/8/2012)
From recall to Presidential elections: What a difference 5 months make. (11/8/2012)
States with the largest and smallest percentages of votes for Obama. (11/8/2012)
Hurricane Sandy and the New York/New Jersey voter turnout. (11/8/2012)
The GOP problem expressed in two quotes. (11/7/2012)
Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight Forecast and the election results. (11/7/2012)
Anointed front runner has a problem on the home front. (11/7/2012)
Thank you to the women of the U.S.A. (11/7/2012)
Nebraska and Indiana: the shame-faced members of the Big Ten. (11/7/2012)
The lonely blue: Nebraska's Thurston County. (11/7/2012)
Dear Republicans, meet your future. (11/7/2012)
You got that wrong! (11/6/2012)

Bar Graphing the 2012 Presidential and U.S. Senate Results in the City and County of Racine Wisconsin

Final Racine County election results. (Racine Journal Times, 11/15/2012)

Totals: Obama/Biden, 53,008; Romney/Ryan, 49,347

Totals: Tammy Baldwin, 51,630; Tommy Thompson, 47,030

War - "City Country City"

Related posts:
2012 Presidential election mapped. (11/16/2012)
Redistricting in Wisconsin: the plumber control the spigot. (11/15/2012)
Romney sez it's Christmas in November. (11/14/2012)
How young people (18-29) voted for President in 2012. (11/14/2012)
Meet the Optimizer, Larry Grisolano. (11/13/2012)
The really BIG money. (11/12/2012)
Money can't buy you happiness. (11/12/2012)
Eric Litke can't see the forest for the trees. (11/12/2012)
Yes, Frank, a methodology that puts Gallup solidly in last place for accuracy. (11/11/2012)
City of Middleton vs. Town of Middleton. (11/10/2012)
U.S. Rep. John Fleming sends a warning to Speaker Boehner. (11/10/2012)
How they voted in the Southwest Wisconsin Library System. (11/9/2012)
Romney's 1st slogan choice was "Let's get small". (11/9/2012)
How Brown, Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties pushed Tammy Baldwin to victory. (11/9/2012)
Comparing the results of the 2010 and 2012 elections in Wisconsin's 44th Assembly district. (11/8/2012)
From recall to Presidential elections: What a difference 5 months make. (11/8/2012)
States with the largest and smallest percentages of votes for Obama. (11/8/2012)
Hurricane Sandy and the New York/New Jersey voter turnout. (11/8/2012)
The GOP problem expressed in two quotes. (11/7/2012)
Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight Forecast and the election results. (11/7/2012)
Anointed front runner has a problem on the home front. (11/7/2012)
Thank you to the women of the U.S.A. (11/7/2012)
Nebraska and Indiana: the shame-faced members of the Big Ten. (11/7/2012)
The lonely blue: Nebraska's Thurston County. (11/7/2012)
Dear Republicans, meet your future. (11/7/2012)
You got that wrong! (11/6/2012)

Thursday, November 15, 2012

50 Years Ago on the Cover of TIME: George Romney

"Republicans: The Citizen's Candidate".

From the opening paragraph: The father of the compact car got up and dressed at 6 a.m. Usually he takes a prebreakfast jog around the grounds of suburban Detroit's Bloomfield Hills Country Club, which is adjacent to his $150,000 contemporary home. At the very least, he plays a fast game of "compact golf"—six holes, three balls. But on this particular morning, he and his wife Lenore hurried over to the polling place—to vote for George Wilcken Romney, 55, Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan.

Why This Nonsense Will Probably Resonant with Georgians of a Certain Persuasion

Atlanta's Racial Demographics

Georgia Lawmakers Meet With Dick Morris Over Obama's 'Mind-Control' UN Dictatorship Plot, (Crooks and Liars, 11/15/2012)

Excerpt: The event also included Fox News contributor Dick Morris, who cautioned lawmakers that Obama would "force everyone into the cities from whence our ancestors fled."

And what about this Agenda 21 conspiracy nonsense?

Well, here's the document that has helped to fertilize a lot of misfiring minds.

The Southern Povery Law Center has more.

Dick Morris, as we already know, is full of nonsense.

The 2012 Presidential Election Mapped

The standard state-by-state map, this one found at Latino Post.

County-by-county as shared by the New York Times.

"Purple America", created by Robert J. Vanderbei, Professor, Operations Research and Financial Engineering Associated Faculty Member in Astrophysics, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Cartogram by Mark Newman, Department of Physics and Center for the Study of Complex Systems, University of Michigan.

Redistricting in Wisconsin: The Plumber Controls the Spigot

State Dems got more votes; no GOP mandate. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/13/2012)

Excerpt: That's right; legislative Democrats won more votes than legislative Republicans statewide. By our calculations, when all is said and done, Democrats will have received close to 200,000 more votes than Republicans in Assembly races. [Emphasis added]

The Republicans currently hold a 59-39 majority in the State Assembly, with 1 independent.

In January, the Republicans will hold a 60-39 majority.

It's all in how you draw the lines in the design.

It bears repeating. Most of the following is from 8/1/2012 and 11/11/2012 posts.

Documents cast new light on redistricting process; reveal partisan motivations. (Wisconsin State Journal, 7/31/2012, with bold added.)

Let's take a look at some of these compact districts.

We'll start with the district in which I now reside.

The old, relatively compact 79th

The new, sprawling 79th

forcing Sondy Pope-Roberts (D- Town of Middleton) to reconsider her options.

Sondy ran, and won, in the 80th District.

Here's my favorite.

The old 37th

More than half of Jefferson County,

3 townships in Dane County

The new 37th

which left Andy Jorgensen (D-Fort Atkinson) out in the cold.

57 miles from east to west.

To the Republicans' dismay, Jorgensen defeated the Republican incumbent Evan Wynn in the 43rd District.

Here's a view of the district from a statewide perspective......

Turn on the spigot!

Did Leah Vukmir get her wish?

Let's use the 15th Assembly District, part of her 5th Senate District, as the prime example.

The old 15th.

The new 15th.

Hello, Waukesha County! (Lots more GOP.) Goodbye, City of Milwaukee.

Which turned out to be an easy win for the Republican Joe Sanfelippo.

Then there's the State Assembly mash-up that took place in southeastern Wisconsin..

The "old" 61st Assembly District included most of the City of Racine. (The "I", as in east or west of Interstate 94 is not shown on the map below.)

The new 61st Assembly District, shown below, abandons not only the City but also the County of Racine.

One of the first results is summarized in this Milwaukee Journal Sentinel headline: State Rep. Turner not seeking re-election. Turner is a Democrat.

The red line on the map indicates Interstate 94, generally considered to be the line of demarcation between more liberal (east) and most conservative (west) voters.

.
As a result of this redistricting, we end up with two incumbent legislators running against each other.

Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lake). Since 2000, she has represented the 66th AD, most of which is west of the I.

According to the Wisconsin GOP game plan, Kerkman easily defeated 8-term incumbent John Steinbrink (D-Pleasant Prairie), former 65AD representative, with 56% of the vote. Most of Steinbrink's district was located east of the I.

And as a result of redistricting in the 70th, Democrat Amy Sue Vrunick went from winning her seat in 2010 with 56% of the vote to eking out a 168-vote margin in 2012.

The compact, old 70th

The sprawling, new 70th.

Related post:
The faces of gerrymandering. (10/9/2012)

Meet the Wisconsin Folks Behind Campaign for Liberty's Nullification of Obamacare

Campaign for Liberty

Editorial: GOP legislators go rogue over federal health care law. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/14/2012)

Excerpt: They agreed with a tea party-aligned group, the Campaign for Liberty, that they support "nullification" of the Affordable Care Act - and "authorize state and local law enforcement to arrest federal officials attempting to implement the unconstitutional health care scheme known as Obamacare."

Todd Daniel Welch on Facebook.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Wisconsin Public Libraries: Total Circulation and Interlibrary Loans

Wisconsin Public Libraries

Interlibrary Loan, 2000-2011

Other tables:
Circulation per hour. (10/26/2012)
County revenue including non-system county payments. (10/25.2012)
Municipal, county, all other revenue. (10/17/2012)
Total programs and attendance. (10/14/2012)
Other (i.e., mostly adult) programs and attendance. (10/12/2012)
Young adult programs and attendance. (10/12/2012)
Children's programs and attendance. (10/11/2012)
Books, audio, video. (10/9/2012)

Romney Sez It's Christmas in November

Romney Blames Loss on Obama’s ‘Gifts’ to Minorities and Young Voters. (The New York Times, 12/14/2012)

Update on the Tea Party Caucus

According to its website, the group has 60 members -- 55 men and 5 women, although that number is down a bit as a result of the November 6th elections.

How the states are represented.

Texas 12
Florida 6 (5, though Allen West refuses to concede)
Louisiana 5
California 4
Georgia 4
Missouri 3 (Todd Aiken lost his U.S. Senate race)
South Carolina 3
Tennessee 3
Colorado 2
Indiana 2
Kansas 2
Alabama 1
Arizona 1
~~Illinois 1~~ (say goodbye to Joe Walsh)
Iowa 1
Maryland 1
Michigan 1
Minnesota 1(guess who? -- and she didn't win by much)
Mississippi 1
~~Montana 1~~ (Denny Rehberg lost his U.S. Senate race)
Nebraska 1
New Mexico 1
North Carolina 1
Utah 1
West Virginia 1

I probably missed 1 or 2, but hey.....

Photo sources:

2005-06 Wisconsin Blue Book

2007-08 Wisconsin Blue Book

2009-10 Wisconsin Blue Book

2011-12 Wisconsin Blue Book

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Mapping Wisconsin's Nullification Loonies

No surprise which county has 3 of the 9.

Nine lawmakers back charging* federal officials who implement Obamacare here. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 11/13/2012)

*As in allowing police officers to arrest federal officials who attempt who implement the program in Wisconsin.

Herman Wouk's New Novel, "The Lawgiver", Published 65 Years After His Firsty

10 copies, 8 holds in LINKcat

No Caine Mutiny

At 97. He has a Book (or 2) Left. (The New York Times, 11/12/2012)

Excerpt: Mr. Wouk’s satirical (and accurate) depiction of Hollywood’s bizarre ins and outs is merciless, with producers of the Moses movie urgently demanding that Margolit “please keep God’s lines short and few.”

Mr. Wouk said last week, “I’ve sort of been through the movie mill, you might say,” noting that his house was once owned by Natalie Wood, who starred in the 1958 movie version of “Marjorie Morningstar.” Although he praised Humphrey Bogart’s performance in “The Caine Mutiny” (1954), Mr. Wouk said he soured on “movie people” after the 1964 adaptation of his “Youngblood Hawke.” “It was just awful,” he said.

Bogart's Oscar-nominated performance is eerily recreated by Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal.

Wouk's 1st novel, published in 1947.