Retiring Guy's Digest: 2014-06-15

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Support for Minimum Wage Hike Grows

Republicans Divided over Proposed Minimum Wage Hike. (Pew Research, 2/21/2013)

But Independents and Democrats overwhelmingly support a $1.75 per hour increase in the minimum wage.

Public Supports Raising Minimum Wage, Extending Unemployment Aid. (Pew Research, 1/14/2014)

11 months later, when the question is posed with a $10.10 minimum wage in the equation, a majority of Republicans approve.

For other polling results, see

Scott Walker Runs for Cover to the Friendly Confines of Fox & Friends

Fox Does Damage Control For Scott Walker On Criminal Investigation. (Media Matters, 6/20/2014)

PolitiFact: Testing Scott Walker claim that John Doe is 'resolved'. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/20/2014)

Here's an earnest little ditty, appropriate for the occasion, by the (modest) one-hit wonder Jefferson. It reached the top 30 in early 1970. Not sure if even Great Big Radio has this one on its extensive playlist.

Related posts:
The Ralph Randa resume, abbreviated. (5/6/2014)
One of the Governor's supporters thinks he needs to man up. (3/1/2014)
It's the same old song. (2/26/2014)
That's my story and I'm stickin' with it. (2/25/2014)
When you don't have anything of substance to say, spout talking points over and over and over again. (2/24/2014)
The Scott Walker interview that will keep on giving. (2/22/2014)
Another John Doe shocker: Scott Walker doesn't blame Jim Doyle. (2/21/2014)
John Doe shocker: Scott Walker lied to us. (2/20/2014)
Getting to know Scott Walker by the company he keeps. (2/20/2014)

Meet the Fabulous Felonious Brothers

Scott Walker gets support from Chris Christie. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/20/2014)

Curiously, no mention is made of Christie's troubles in this brief (120-word) article.

Here's a recent report.

Chris Christie's money troubles. (The New York Times, 6/6/2014)

And like his pal Scott Walker, he's unwilling to take responsibility for his actions.

Gov. Christie, in New York, blames Democrats for New Jersey's economic problems. (The Press of Atlantic City, 5/21/2014)

Related posts:
Christie/Walker meme, part 1. (3/7/2014)
Christie/Walker meme, part 2. (3/7/2014)
Christie/Walker meme, part 3. (3/8/2014)

Friday, June 20, 2014

Scott Walker Edges Out Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal in New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary Poll

New Hampshire Topline wants to know. I’m going to read you a list of some possible Republican candidates for President. Please tell me which of the following would be your first choice: Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Jon Huntsman, Bobby Jindal, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, Rick Santorum, Scott Walker.

June 14-18

Based on this poll, I'd say that Mike Huckabee, polling well in the Heartland, has little appeal among Republicans voters in the Northeast.

Related posts:
Another Presidential poll, another 5% for Walker. (6/16/2014)
Hello, Wisconsin independent voters, Scott Walker is polling at 6% in Iowa. (5/23/2014)
If that's the case, Walker should immediately announce that he's not a candidate for the 2016 Republican Presidential nomination. (5/23/2014
The Marquette University Law School poll asks the question, Do Wisconsin voters want to see Walker run for president in 2016? (5/22/2014)
"Scott Walker" tied with "None" for 1st choice in CNN/ORC Republican Presidential preference poll. (5/8/2014)
Another Presidential primary poll, another 5% showing for Scott Walker. (5/1/2014)
I hope Scott Walker had a good Easter cuz Donald Trump is outpolling him in New Hampshire. (4/20/2014)
Fox News: Scott Walker polling neck-and-neck with Rick Santorum. (4/17/2014)
Iowa Republican caucus voters not singing Scott Walker's song. (4/10/2014)
Scott Walker still "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again". (4/4/2014)
While Mary Burke campaigns for Governor, Scott Walker continues to run for President. (3/28/2014)
The Washington Examiner offers a boost to Scott Walker Presidential campaign without a hint of irony. (3/26/2014)
Let's do an ID update on this Townhall straw poll. (3/25/2014)
Scott Walker for President 2016: Pundits like the idea but the public sez "meh". (3/16/2014)
Scott Walker is in a bind. (3/15/2014)
Christie/Walker meme, part 3. (3/8/2014)
Christie/Walker meme, part 2. (3/7/2014)
Christie/Walker meme, part 1. (3/7/2014)
The chattering class falls hard for Scott Walker, but the voters are still scratching their heads. (3/6/2014)
So he, too, can embarrass himself. (12/30/2013)

What a Whiner! With No Accomplishments of His Own to Trumpet, Scott Walker Runs Against Jim Doyle ...Again

Just as he's been doing for the past 4 years!

And this is called "Moving Wisconsin Forward".

June 19, 2014

The Relentness Pique and Pettiness of Scott Walker and His True Believers

Scott Walker; Moving Wisconsin Forward (6/19/2014)

"Democrat" is a noun.

"Democratic" is an adjective.

Related reading:

The "Ic" Factor. (The New Yorker, 8/7/2006)

Wisconsin State Assembly District 10: Who's on the Ballot for the August 12 Primary?

An open seat. Incumbent not running for re-election.

10th Assembly District

Public libraries in the 10th District

Milwaukee Public Library

Shorewood Public Library

The 4 Democratic candidates

Candidate biographies

The winner of the August 12 primary will face Republican Artis Landon in the November 4 general election.

About Artis

Home: Brown Deer (not in 10th AD)
Occupation:

Assistant Program Director, Wisconsin Community Services (current)
Deputy, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (former)

Elected office/memberships:

The 10th Assembly District is currently represented by Sandy Pasch, who has served in the legislature since 2008. Sandy announced in April that she won't be seeking re-election.

SIDEBAR: At this point in the exercise, I have to admit that the 5 candidates running for the 1st Assembly seat have done the best job in presenting themselves to the voters.

Related posts:
Who's running unopposed in the Senate and Assembly? (6/16/2014)
Assembly District 1. (6/17/2014)
Assembly District 4. (6/18/2014)
Assembly District 8. (6/19/2014)
Assembly District 16. (6/20/2014)

Wisconsin State Assembly District 16: Who's on the Ballot for the August 12 Primary?

Incumbent facing partisan challenge.

16th Assembly District

LINK

Public libraries in the 16th Assembly District

Milwaukee Public Library

2 Democratic candidates

Biographical information

The winner of the August 12th primary will run unopposed in the November 4 general election. No other candidates registered to run for this seat.

Tracey Dent was one of 4 candidates who ran in the 2012 Democratic primary to represent the 17th Assembly District, an open seat due to the resignation of Barbara Toles. He finished 3rd.

Ballotpedia

Related posts:
Who's running unopposed in the Senate and Assembly? (6/16/2014)
Assembly District 1. (6/17/2014)
Assembly District 4. (6/18/2014)
Assembly District 8. (6/19/2014)

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Indiana Congresscritter Backtracks by Comparingthe "Enabled" Poor to Children

Another Republican who doesn't understand how social media works.

Indiana GOP candidate: ‘No one has the guts’ to let poor people ‘wither and die. (Raw Story, 6/11/2014)

Meet John Johnston, a small man.

If I were Chuck Moseley, I'd do everything possible to keep JJ talking.

Hope to See Many of my Madison Area Library Colleagues at this Event

Eric Genrich represents the 90th Assembly District (Green Bay). He was formerly employed by the Brown County Public Library as its Information Technology Librarian.

Eric Genrich for Assembly

Where is Governor Walker's Press Release Now That Wisconsin is a Coincident Index Laggard....Again.

From the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia website. The coincident indexes combine four state-level indicators to summarize current economic conditions in a single statistic. The four state-level variables in each coincident index are

nonfarm payroll employment
average hours worked in manufacturing
the unemployment rate
wage and salary disbursements deflated by the consumer price index (U.S. city average).

32 states are doing better on this index than Wisconsin.

Last September, Walker tried to get some mileage out of this index when Wisconsin was dark green on the map.

But it was just another exercise in his misleading the people he serves.

Related posts:
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce doesn't want you to read all about this. (10/1/2013)
Another bad month for Wisconsin on the Federal Reserve's coincident index. (6/2/2013)
Is is a coincident? (11/18/2011)

Outbreak of Pearl Clutching Reported in Wisconsin

Wisconsin DPI seeks data on voucher school students with disabilities. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/17/2014)

Monica asks the appropriate question. "We really need concrete data on how voucher schools are serving disabled students," said Monica Murphy, managing attorney at Disability Rights Wisconsin. "DPI can ask for whatever it wants. Why are (voucher advocates) afraid to provide the data?"

State Senator Paul Yarrow rattles on for 2 pages in this letter to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers.

In a choke grip, the Wisconsin Club for Growth refers to DPI as the Department of Political Interference.

Best to listen to Sondy Pope (D-Cross Plains), a legislator who has made educational issues a priority during her 12 years in the State Assembly.

Wisconsin State Assembly District 8: Who's on the Ballot for the August 12 Primary?

8th Assembly District

Incumbent facing partisan challenge.

Public library in the 8th Assembly District:

Milwaukee Public Library Forest Home Branch

The 2 Democratic candidates

Candidate biographies

This is the 3rd time that Manriquez has challenged Zamarrripa in a primary for the 8th Assembly District seat.

Ballotpedia

Background

The winner of the August 12 primary will face Republican Vincent Synowicz in the November 4 general election.

Home: Milwaukee
Occupation:

Salesman for health club (former)
Internship, City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau

Elected office/memberships:

Milwaukee City Council (former)
President, Walker Square Neighborhood Association (former)

Related posts:
Who's running unopposed in the Senate and Assembly? (6/16/2014)
Assembly District 1. (6/17/2014)
Assembly District 4. (6/18/2014)

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Ron Johnson: The "Mr. Sunshine" of Their Love

NoRoJo2016

Did Scott Walker rip GOP senator? National Review says yes; he says no. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/18/2014)

Spokeswoman and brown-noser. "Sen. Johnson is quite sure the governor couldn't be referring to him because as (Johnson) travels around the state, people often refer to him as 'Mr. Sunshine,'" said Melinda Whiteman ("Macht") Schnell, spokeswoman for Johnson.

Have you heard anyone refer to Ron Johnson as "Mr. Sunshine"? (Maybe you'd like to share some of the things you have heard him called? Or called him yourself.)

Well, we do know he's brought some sunshine into the Koch Brothers' lives.

Ron Johnson: the Kochs' "model legislator". (The Isthmus, 5/31/2014)

Related NoRoJo 2016 posts:
Chapter 1. (1/2/2013)
Chapter 2. (1/10/2013)
Chapter 3. (2/12/2013)
Chapter 4. (2/13/2013)
Chapter 5 (3/11/2013)
Chapter 6. (3/25/2013)

Chapter 7. (4/8/2013)
Chapter 8. (4/9/2013)
Chapter 9. (4/12/2013)
Chapter 10. (4/14/2013)
Chapter 11. (5/2/2013)

Chapter 12. (8/15/2013)
Chapter 13: One-trick pony? (10/17/2013)
Chapter 14. (10/24/2013)
Chapter 15. (2/19/2014)
Chapter 16. (3/15/2014)
Ron Johnson for President? Well, he might as well give it a go since he's not going to be re-elected U.S. Senator. (5/14/2014)

The Helping Profession: Only If You've Got the Bucks

Special Report: Hospitals, doctors moving out of poor city neighborhoods to more affluent areas. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/18/2014)

Movin' to the 'burbs. A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis of data from the largest U.S. metropolitan areas shows that people in poor neighborhoods are less healthy than their more affluent neighbors, but more likely to live in areas with physician shortages and closed hospitals.

At a time when research shows that being poor is highly correlated with poor health, hospitals and doctors are following privately insured patients to more affluent areas rather than remaining anchored in communities with the greatest health care needs.

This is nothing new, folks. "The Shame of American Medicine". The New York Review of Books, 5/26/1966.

I remember these news stories. It was how I learned about the Mayo Clinic.. It has left us in an extremely unfortunate mess. At its best American medicine may very well be the best in the world, as its practitioners claim, which is why retired English kings and Arabian sheiks turn up regularly in our hospitals. But though excellent treatment is usually available to the very rich, the rest of the population finds even adequate services hard to come by.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Rustic Roads Program with Photo Contest

Details here.

And I'm using this news release as an excuse to show off two photos my dad took of a Pennsylvania rustic road in October 1960. Truly rustic -- not much more than a dirt path snaking its way through the Allegheny foothills outside of Warren, PA.

Wisconsin State Assembly District 4: Who's on the Ballot for the August 12 Primary?

4th Assembly District

An open seat. Incumbent not running for re-election.

Public libraries in the 4th Assembly District:
Brown County Public

The 3 Republican candidates

Candidate biographies

The winner of the August 12 primary will face Democrat Chris Plaunt in the November 4 general election.

About Chris. (Unfortunately, when I click on "About Chris", the follow message appears: "The requested page cannot be found.)

Home: De Pere
Occupation:
Elected office/memberships:

The 4th Assembly District is currently represented by Chad Weininger (R-Green Bay), who has held this seat since 2010. Weininger recently accepted a position as Director of Administration for Brown County.

Related posts:
Who's running unopposed in the Senate and Assembly? (6/16/2014)
Assembly District 1. (6/17/2014)

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Well, at least I can be thankful the passenger pigeon is extinct

From the Stanford University website, Essays on Birds. In all probability, the Passenger Pigeon was once the most abundant bird on the planet. Accounts of its numbers sound like something out of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and strain our credulity today. Alexander Wilson, the father of scientific ornithology in America, estimated that one flock consisted of two billion birds. Wilson's rival, John James Audubon, watched a flock pass overhead for three days and estimated that at times more than 300 million pigeons flew by him each hour. Elongated nesting colonies several miles wide could reach a length of forty miles. In these colonies, droppings were thick enough to kill the forest understory.

Wisconsin State Assembly District 1: Who's on the Ballot for the August 12 Primary?

Public libraries in the 1st Assembly District:

Algoma
Door County (8 locations)
Kewaunee
Brown County (4 townships in its service area)

The 4 Republican candidates

Candidate biographies

The winner of the August 12 primary will face Democrat Joe Majeski in the November 4 general election.

About Joe

Home: Jacksonport
Occupation

Door Peninsula Hops, 20-acre hobby farm (current)
Director and Principal of Special Education, Sevastopol School (24 years, retired)
Business Manager, Luxemburg Medical Clinic (former)

Elected office/memberships (selected, current)

The 1st Assembly District is currently represented by Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay), who has held this seat since 2000. Bies announced his retirement on January 20, 2014.

Related post:
Wisconsin State Legislature: Who's running unopposed in 2014. (6/16/2014)

Neal Kedzie Trifecta: Adding Some Color to a Statement of Resignation

Milking a news release and the reportage on it for all it's worth.

Chapter 1. The Strongly Republican District is an Example of Gerrymandering.

Chapter 2. It's a Neal Kedzie Twin Spin.

Chapter 3. Adding Some Color to a Statement of Resignation.

Monday, June 16, 2014

It's a Neal Kedzie Twin Spin

Wisconsin Sen. Neal Kedzie announces he's resigning. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/16/2014)

"A new opportunity has come before me"?

The Strongly Republican District is an Example of Gerrymandering

11th Senate District

Wisconsin Sen. Neal Kedzie announces he's resigning. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/16/2014)

Scroll-saw design, where needed, such as in the 31st Assembly District to keep Amy Loudenbeck safe and, as it turned out, able to run unopposed. The strongly Republican district includes most of Walworth County and portions of Rock, Jefferson, Waukesha and Kenosha counties.

Scathing? Let's try silly, specious, for starters.

Yup, just like having someone buy milk and eggs for me.

Supreme Court rules against 'straw purchasers' of guns. (USA Today, 6/16/2014)

Scalia's dissent for the court's conservatives — not including Justice Anthony Kennedy, who provided the swing vote — was scathing.

[snip]

But Scalia ridiculed the majority's assertion that under federal firearms laws, the uncle -- not Abramski — was the true purchaser of the gun. "If I give my son $10 and tell him to pick up milk and eggs at the store, no English speaker would say that the store 'sells' the milk and eggs to me," he said.

Another Presidential Poll, Another 5% for Scott Walker

Here's the pitch. I'm going to read a list of people who may be running in the Republican primaries for president in 2016. After I read all the names, please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, or if you would support someone else.

Wisconsin State Legislature: Who's Running Unopposed in 2014

State Senate

Odd-numbered seats up for re-election (17 of 33)
1 Republican, 2 Democrats are running unopposed
State senators serve 4-year terms

State Assembly

All 99 seats up for re-election
42 uncontested: 25 Republicans, 17 Democrats
Assembly representatives serve 2-year terms

Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. Fall 2014 General Election.

Stayed tuned for summaries of the contested elections. I'll start with those districts that have a partisan primary. These elections take place on Tuesday, August 12, 2014.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

From the Bottom Up: Grass, Border, Snow on the Mountain, Big Tree

From the Bottom Up: Elf, Whiskey Barrel, Heron

Cartman Snowman and Sleeping Elf Among the Ferns

Lost Wisconsin: You Won't Forget the Name After Viewing This Commercial

On Wisconsin: Meet the man with optimism and financial wherewithal to revive the Gobbler. (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/15/2014)

The Gobbler Supper Club, 1969-1992. Clarence Hartwig, a local turkey farmer, spent $1 million to build and open the Helmut Ajango-designed Gobbler in 1969 along with the Gobbler Hotel up the hill. The business drew crowds from Milwaukee, Madison, Lake Geneva and northern Illinois, and it wasn’t uncommon for Milwaukee Brewers or Bucks players to be spotted at the restaurant.

Gobbler photo tour.

Facebook: The Gobbler Motel/Supper Club.

From the Why-is-this-news Department

Capital Times, 6/15/2014

Julaine's freeze-dried thinking. "And against all the naysayers, the prevaricators, everything, we won. Marriage won that day," she said of the 2006 amendment that carried with 59.4 percent. "And marriage won because people in this state fundamentally understand that, No. 1, marriage is a foundational, societal institution providing stability for our state and our culture. But primarily because they understood that children need both a mother and a father. And when you change the definition of marriage to be inclusive of same-sex couples, you have automatically said they don't need either a father or a mother. And I would ask, which one don't they need?"

Actually, it sounds as though Julaine is pissed because she thinks she should be making this decision for all of us.

Don't believe me? Read up on Wisconsin Family Action, Julaine's bailiwick, and note the year that it was organized.

The times they are a-chaingin', Julaine.

Wikipedia

Des Moines Bests Madison on "Queer Index"

New media group ranks Madison No. 10 on 'Queer Index'. Capital Times, 6/14/2014)

Here's a brief description of the how the ranking are determined. To come up with the rankings, Vocativ looked at factors such as the number of out gay and lesbian adults, the number of same-sex couples, the number of gay and lesbian singles, openly gay politicians, marriage equality, hate crimes, gay couple adoptions, LGBT bars and media, the availability of "hookups" and the availability of casual sex, among others.

Homepage link

Of the 35 cities on the list, 11 are state capitals.

Sacramento, California
Denver, Colorado
Hartford, Connecticut
Atlanta, Georgia
Honolulu, Hawaii
Des Moines, Iowa
Boston, Massachusetts
Albany, New York
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Providence, Rhode Island
Madison, Wisconsin

Of the 35 cities on the list, 15 are the largest cities in their state.

Los Angeles, California
Denver, Colorado
Atlanta, Georgia
Honolulu, Hawaii
Chicago, Illinois
Des Moines, Iowa
Boston, Massachusetts
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Las Vegas, Nevada
New York, New York
Portland, Oregon
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Providence, Rhode Island
Seattle, Washington
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Somebody Needs Lessons in Leadership

Scott Walker: My views on same-sex marriage don't matter. (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/13/2014)

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. gets to the heart or the matter. “The last thing Walker wants to do is get into a debate about same-sex marriage,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “Why? Because he’ll lose."

And Sabato, based on his "Crystal Ball" prognostications, is a big fan of Walker. First tier in February 2014. Whoa, mama!

Let's just hope that after November 4th, it won't matter what Walker's views are on any topic, except political obituaries.

Time Marches On: The Voice-Mail Edition

At the Tone, Leave a What? (The New York Times, 6/14/2014)

So 1990s. If the movie were remade today, Mike would have to find another outlet for his miscues. The concept of leaving (and checking) voice mail is, to millennials, as obsolete as swing-dancing and playing NHL ’94 on Sega Genesis. That red number on their iPhones announcing how many voice mail messages are waiting? Ignored. The recording? Instantly deleted.

Pew Research survey references: Teens, Smart Phones, and Texting. (March 19, 2012)

Never caught this movie.