Retiring Guy's Digest: 2016-04-24

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Meet 2 of the 5 Wisconsin Supreme Court contenders on Scott Walker's shortlist

Not sure who's who, but then does it really matter?

A shortlist of likely contenders for Justice David Prosser's Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. (Madison.com, 4/28/2016)

Wherein we learn the following:

5 white guys: The best and the brightest from Walkerville.

He ran all the way, creating a most arresting visual

As reported in Armed robber asks for money, flees empty-handed, Madison police say. (Madison.com, 4/28/2016)

The suspect displayed a black handgun and demanded money from the clerk, but when the clerk told him there wasn't any, he ran from the store.

Speaking of which.....

Here's a trailer, of sorts, from He Ran All the Way, a taut little (67-minute running time) film noir from 1951, starring John Garfield and Shelley Winters.

They just don't make them like they used to.

Here's a 3-minute clip.

Scott Walker has a job opening

Here's the press release.

The link to the Judicial Application takes you here. (Note yellow arrow pointing to "Governor's Office".)

Which gets you to "Apply to Serve".

And then to "Judicial Application".

Which takes you here, where the top half of the page gives you an opportunity to read the press release again.

But don't click on www.walker.wi.gov!

If you do, you end up back here.

Back up....

...and scroll down to read the Instructions.

I suspect Walker is simply going through the motions on this one.

John Boehner tells us what he really thinks about Ted Cruz

As quoted in Boehner: Ted Cruz is ‘Lucifer in the Flesh,’ ‘Miserable Son of a Bitch’. (Mediaite, 4/28/2016)

Related reading:
The most hated man in Congress: Ted Cruz’s laughable difficulty in landing endorsements from Senate colleagues. (Salon, 3/17/2016)

Dear Donald Trump, We know that you'll lose in November -- as a man or a woman

Source: Real Clear Politics

Donald Trump Keeps Playing ‘Woman’s Card’ Against Hillary Clinton. (The New York Times, 4/27/2016)

“If Hillary Clinton were a man, I don’t think she would get 5 percent of the vote,” Mr. Trump said.

If you think about it (too much), it's a comment that opens up an interesting world of possibilities. Bill and Hill takes on new meaning.

This just in from Cruz campaign: Two negatives make a positive

Ted Cruz Names Carly Fiorina as His Running Mate, Seeking a Jolt. (The New York Times, 4/27/2016)

Desperate times call for desperate measures Mr. Cruz’s decision to rush out a vice-presidential pick before next week’s primary in Indiana, which is becoming make-or-break for his candidacy, was the political equivalent of a student pulling a fire alarm to avoid an exam: It was certain to draw attention and carried the possibility of meeting its immediate goal, but seemed unlikely to forestall the eventual reckoning.

The fact is, Scott Walker, Wisconsin spent a lot of time and money on a solution in search of a problem

Scott Walker and his masters' voices.

As quoted in GAB Director Calls Walker's Comments On Voter ID Law 'Disingenuous'. (Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/27/2016)

Related posts:
Ted Perry, GOP hypocrisy, voter ID, and anger. (4/8/2016)
Voter ID controversy: Glenn Grothman just makes it worse. (4/6/2016)
The hyper-hypocritical Scott Walker: Hunters are ethical, voters are not. (3/10/2016)
It's not an oversight; just part of the Republican plan to disenfranchise voters. (2/1/2016)
Republican candidates for President want voting to be a privilege, not a right. (8/6/2015)
Apparently, it's OK to plagiarize a Voter ID law. (10/17/2014)
The Republicans' voter ID, "common sense" echo chamber. (10/13/2014)
GOP reaches out to Blacks and Hispanics while making it harder for them to vote. (10/3/2014)
What are the odds? Joint Finance provides funding for Voter ID campaign. (10/1/2014)
In the news: Wisconsin Voter ID law and absentee ballots. (9/18/2014)
Wisconsin Republican legislative leaders cry like a baby. (9/17/2014)
Reality sandwiched between two slices of Leah Vukmir white bread. (9/15/2014)
Scott Walker on Voter ID: It's going just according to plan. (8/2/2014)
Meet Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack, who authored majority opinions in voter ID cases. (8/1/2014)
So as a result, you want your government to make it harder for you to vote? (5/22/2014)
The cat's got Fitzgerald's tongue. (5/14/2014)
I can see how these pie graphs from a 2005 report might have informed the discussion for voter ID proponents. (5/11/2014)
When it comes to diversity, all they want to do is talk. (5/4/2014)
We're still awaiting a statement from Governor Walker. (4/29/2014)
Voter suppression: Rep. Tom Larson uses the City of Milwaukee as the bogeyman. (3/31/2014)
Sen. Mary Lazich shows her true colors. (3/18/2014)
And the hypocrisy just keeps on coming: Republicans can't even give lip service to their "principles". (2/14/2014)

Related reading:
New G.O.P. Bid to Limit Voting in Swing States. (The New York Times, 3/29/2014)
ALEC Exposed: Democracy, Voter Rights, and Federal Power. (Center for Media and Democracy, 9/28/2012)
Right-Wing Operatives Take Up ALEC's Voter Suppression Agenda. (Center for Media and Democracy's PR Watch, 4/19/2012)
Voter Suppression 101. (Center for American Progress. 4/4/2012)

Freedom Caucus chair Jim Jordan ready to go crazy on the House dance floor

As quoted in House Freedom Caucus Chairman Vows to Push Conservative Amendments to Spending Bills. (The Daily Signal, 4/27/2016)

Other Jim Jordan posts:
It's probably good news that the Freedom Caucus wants to go big, go bold; look where it got Scott Walker. (1/19/2016)
The Freedom Caucus 'crazies': Have Jim Jordan and Justin Amash been talking much lately? (10/16/2015)
Meet 'the crazies' in the U.S. House of Representatives. (10/8/2015)
No friend to the environment. (3/20/2015)

Snapshot of 2014/2015 comparable book sales by general format

Sources/background reading:
AAP StatShot: Trade Sales Up Slightly at Year End 2015. Format preferences, category performance, vary greatly from 2014. (BusinessWire, 4/26/2016)
Ebook Sales Declined in 2015; Digital Audio Continued Growth. (Digital Book World, 4/26/2016 )

Related posts:
Overall, sales of print books are up for 2nd year in a row. (2/22/2016)
The fact of the matter is that net sales of hardback and paperback books have held relatively steady for the past 5 years. (1/28/2016)
Print continues to hold its own. (1/21/2015)
Is this the future of e-books? (8/27/2014)
Who's reading ebooks (by household income). (7/20/2014)
Ebook digital subscription services: Is it a bjargain? (7/20/2014)
Which is what you would have predicted after reading "In So Many Words" in March 1997. (5/28/2014)
Amazon delivers the "Lesley Gore" ultimatum. (4/25/2014)
The boom is over for ebooks. (4/2/2014)
Ebooks and the hype of emerging technology: Have we finally reached the slope of enlightenment? (3/11/2014)
Pew Research report on e-reading. (1/16/2014)
Book sales update as of October 2013. (1/10/2014)
The 24-hour news recycle: Mein Kampf edition. (1/7/2014)

Morning Consult: Most and least popular U.S. Senators

Apparently, it's the Land of Nice in Vermont, Maine, Delaware, and Minnesota.

Source: Morning Consult

A closer look at Wisconsin's population loss: Racine County

Since its founding, Racine County experienced steady, incremental population growth until 1940, at which point it entered a 30-year boom period when its population nearly doubled. Marginal growth occurred during the 1970s and 1980, followed by 2 decades of slight acceleration. Since the 2010 census, the county has lost an estimated 328 residents.

Source: Wikipedia + U.S. Census Bureau (2015)

Racine County percentages include the City of Racine. (94% of Racine County's Black residents live in the City of Racine, whereas 66% of Racine County's Hispanic residents live in the City of Racine..)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

As of July 1, 2014, 14.7% of Racine County's population is 65 and over, compared to the state average of 15.2%. Its 0-to-4 demographic is 6.2% vs. the state average 5.9%.

Related posts:
A closer look at Price County. (4/26/2016)
A closer look at Polk County . (4/25/2016)
A closer look at Pierce County. (4/24/2016)
A closer look at Oneida County. (4/23/2016)
A closer look at Oconto County, (4/22/2016)
A closer look at Marinette County. (4/21/2016)
A closer look at Manitowoc County. (4/20/2016)
A closer look at Lincoln County. (4/19/2016)
A closer look at Langlade County. (4/18/2016)

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Dear Mark Meadows, Last April 71.3% of Americans disapproved of Congress; that number has risen to 77.6%

See for yourself, Mark.

@RepMarkMeadows

Related posts:
Freedom Caucus member Mark Meadows, one of Peter King's 'crazies', is in a hearts-and-minds mood with Mitch McConnell. (2/24/2016)
Mark Meadows joins his Republican colleagues in a chorus of "I Pledge Allegiance to the NRA". (1/7/2016)
Meet 'the crazies' in the U.S. House of Representatives. (10/6/2015)
No friend to the environment. (3/13/2015)

NC-17 (at least): Inside the bizarre, twisted mind of Jesse Kremer

Rep. Kremer was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly with 38.6% of the vote in an August 2014 primary election. He was unopposed in the November 2014 general election.

Selected blatherings from The Progressives’ Blatant War on Women Exposed. (Press release, 4/26/2016)

Other Jesse Kremer posts:
UPDATE: GOP Assembly leaders bail on "guns in school" bill, to disappointment of cluster of usual suspects. (2/21/2016)
In so many words, Rep. Jesse Kremer sez he'll sleep better with more guns in Wisconsin schools. (1/14/2016)
Cartoon conservative principles, the Christmas edition: Rep. Kremer accuses fire officials of 'relieving themselves'. (12/23/2015)
Bathroom bill update: Julaine Appling must have inadvertently loosened her grip on Jesse Kremer's leash. (12/16/2015)
Out of (local) control: When it comes to anything resembling a train, Republicans just can't help themselves. (12/1/2015)
The 'bathroom bill' marriage of Jesse Kremer and Julaine Appling. (11/21/2015)
ALEC/NRA waterboy Jesse Kremer blames the media. (10/23/2015)
Waterboys for the NRA and ALEC: Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) and Sen. Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) (10/13/2015)
Wisconsin Republicans continue their laser-like focus on jobs and the economy. (10/7/2015)
Wisconsin Assembly candidate denounces tax breaks for wind energy but conveniently overlooks what big oil receives. (8/7/2014)
Just what the Wisconsin legislature needs: Another ALEC disciple. (8/7/2014)

Scott Walker gives a shoutout to high performers

As quoted in Walker defends cuts, changes to UW system. (WKOW, 4/26/2016)

Here's a list of Walker's top 10 high performers, courtesy of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.