Saturday, June 18, 2016

On the other hand, maybe this is why Florida Republicans want Rubio in Senate race


All of them are trailing the 2 Democratic candidates in the polls.


Marco Rubio in so many words: It's not about service; it's all about my overweening ambition.  (6/18/2016)

Marco Rubio in so many words: It's not about service; it's all about my overweening ambition



As reported in Marco Rubio, Reversing Plans, Is Leaning Toward Running for Senate Again.  (The New York Times, 6/17/2016)

Apparently, if you speak ill of conservative talker Mark Levin, he takes it very personally



As reported in Conservative talk show host Levin endorses Starrett, labels DesJarlais 'sellout' and 'sleazeball' .  (Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/17/2016)

The conservative Heritage Foundation puts DesJarlais at the head of the class on its scorecard of the Tennessee Congressional delegation.  (red arrow added)


Meet Scott's challenger.


"Can we find a friend so faithful?"



This was the last of a series of albums of hymns recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford,  It was released in January 1963 and spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, peaking at #71.

His first albums of hymns, released in January 1957, spent 277 weeks on the chart and reached as high as #2, where it spent 3 weeks.

Dubya: I'm with Rojo!


Both men favor blue ties.


Report: George W. Bush to help Ron Johnson raise campaign cash.  (Madison.com, 6/17/2016)
The report does not say when and where the fundraising events will be held. Johnson’s campaign declined to comment on the report.

According to tie-necktie-video.com,  
Blue is a calming, soothing color which radiates peace and tranquility. If you are going into a hostile meeting with tense parties, then Blue [sic] is an excellent color choice. But just because blue is peaceful, does not mean it is a weak color, it is persistent and everlasting, like waves upon the shore.

Other NoRoJo2016 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)

Ron Johnson:  The sunshine of their love.  (6/18/2014) 
Chapter 19.  If only:  The early arrival of NoRoJo16.  (7/21/2014) 
Chapter 20:  As if we need more evidence.  (8/3/2014) 
Chapter 21.  Time to "ween off" RoJo.  (8/8/2014) 
Chapter 22.  The empty head addresses Cuba.  (12/22/2014)
Chapter 23.  We Really Don't Need Another 6 Years of Deep-Red Embarrassment.  (1/9/2015) 
Chapter 24.  Retiring Guy's illustrated dictionary:  'meaningless'.  (4/19/2015) 
Chapter 25.  Ron Johnson talks out of both sides of his mouth regarding 'career politicians'.  (5/17/2015)
Chapter 26.  The company he keeps.  (12/15/2015)
Chapter 27.  Dear Ron Johnson, Some of your best buds in the U.S. Senate are career politicians.  (2/4/2016)
Chapter 28.  Ron Johnson misreads the Constitution and misinterprets originalism.  (2/15/2016)
Chapter 29:  Dear Ron Johnson, How do you possibly expect to get reelected with these numbers?  (2/25/2016)
Chapter 30.  Two guys with low favorable ratings visit La Crosse.  (2/29/2016)
Chapter 31.  Ron Johnson:  Not our senator.  (3/15/2016)
Chapter 32.  Dear Ron Johnson, Let me speak frankly; you don't have a prayer! (3/17/2016)
Chapter 33.  Ron Johnson mouthpiece speaks up for silent boss.  (6/7/2016)

Friday, June 17, 2016

Just like his Texas buddy Lamar Smith, John Cronyn can't say the words lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender



As quoted in one of his weekly email posts, "Fighting Radical Islamic Terrorism".

Gomer.

Related post:
Terrorism is in Lamar Smith's vocabulary but not lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.  (6/17/2016)

This is how far Chris Christie, one of the Fabulous Felonious Brothers, has fallen


Having a spokeman defend him against a rumor of picking up an order for Donald Trump at McDonald's.


As reported in Chris Christie denies fetching Donald Trump his McDonald’s.  (Death and Taxes, 6/16/2016)

As if his descent from GOP Presidential frontrunner to laughingstock wasn't enough!



Other Fabulous Felonious Brothers posts:
Chris Christie: From an aura of inevitability to inability.  (2/11/2016)
Headline News: The Fabulous Felonious Brothers read from the same script.  (1/14/2015)
The Fabulous Felonious Brothers feud.  (10/28/2014)
The Fabulous Felonious Brothers on the minimum wage.  (10/23/2014) 
The Fabulous Felonious Brothers take Hudson. (9/30/2014)
Fabulous Felonious Brothers tour in the offing? (8/6/2014)
Point/Counterpoint: Scott Walker and Chris Christie on the Republican fight against gay marriage.  (7/15/2014)
Meet the Fabulous Felonious Brothers.  (6/21/2014)

The next time members of Congress belittle Obama's job approval ratings, show them these 2 line graphs


Obama's approval rating has increased more than 10 percentage points since December 2013, most of it occurring since the beginning of this year.


With disapproval ratings consistently in the stratosphere, Congress showed some improvement through the first quarter of 2015.  Since then, its disapproval rating has been moving upward. 


Public records best practices from Scott Walker's cabinet appointees? Hardly seems likely!


On the other hand, they are sure to have some examples of foot-dragging (and worse) to share.


As reported in Walker overhaul of public records handling just taking shape. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/14/2016)

Related posts:
With a 19-14 Republican majority in the State Senate, 63-36 in Assembly, this Democratic-sponsored bill is DOA.  (1/28/2016)
Meet the members of the Wisconsin Public Records Board.  (11/11/2015)
Dear Beth, Journalists have a sacred oath to respond to this betrayal of the public trust by Scott Walker.  (12/11/2015)
Danger, Will Robinson! Scott Walker talks about openness, access, and transparency.  (12/8/2015)
Open records and Scott Walker's concerns with constituents' privacy.  (7/5/2015)
Scott Walker does David Bowie.  (7/4/2015)
Open records and Scott Walker's irresolute response.  (7/4/2015) 
When it comes to transparency, ALEC wants to have it both ways.  (7/4/2015)
You have to wonder what dictionary Joint Finance co-chair John Nygren is working from.  (7/3/2015) 
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos's definition of transparency: All the self-serving Republican news releases I see fit to print
Good question, Albert Darling. So why the lack of transparency in Wisconsin? (7/3/2015)

Dear Paul Nehlen, You've been dismissed



Speaker Paul Ryan as quoted in Paul Ryan's Republican challenger Paul Nehlen looks for underdog win.  (Madison.com, 6/12/2016)

Other Nehlen posts:
Like the Isley Brothers, Paul Nehlen is going to pop that thang.  (5/21/2016)
Wealthy businessman Paul Nehlen has had it with House Speaker Paul Ryan.  (3/31/2016)

72 people killed in gun-related violence in the United States in the past 72 hours


Screenshot from Gun Violence Archives

Example of incident report



Terrorism is in Lamar Smith's vocabulary but not lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender


Press release:  "We Must Fight Back Against Terroriam", 

But then, why should we expect anything else from this homophobe?
Same-sex ``marriages'' demean the fundamental institution of marriage. They legitimize unnatural and immoral behavior. And they trivialize marriage as a mere ``lifestyle choice.'' 
The institution of marriage sets a necessary and high standard. Anything that lowers this standard, as same-sex ``marriages'' do, inevitably belittles marriage.  (As quoted in "Homophobia for Posterity", American Prospect, 2/24/2011)
For Lamar, it's all 'they' and  'them' references.

Other Lamar posts:
Meet Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.  (11/25/2015)
Meet the members of the Republican Study Committee.  (8/11/2015)
No friend to the environment.  (5/17/2015)

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Hollywood lacking imagination once again: Do we really need another version of A Star is Born?


The Wrap, 6/16/2016










Top this, Lady Gaga.



A lot has changed in the past 62 years.

Source: Goldderby

Related articles:
Judy Garland and the Oscar fuck-up of 1954.  (A.V. Club, 6/20/2014)
1954: Judy vs. Grace, ”A Star is Robbed!"  (Frontiers Media, 1/24/2014)

Elkhorn was annexed by Omaha in 2007




From 2012



Related article:
Omaha Mayor Stothert proposes largest annexation since 2007, when city took over Elkhorn.  (Omaha World-Herald, 7/10/2014)

The New York Times categorizes how Republicans deal with questions about Trump



As reported in On Donald Trump, Republicans Keep Distance in Different Ways, by Jennifer Steinhauer.   (The New York Times, 6/15/2016)
Then there is Speaker Paul D. Ryan. He is perhaps the most prominent critic of Mr. Trump on his proposed Muslim ban, but has nonetheless fully endorsed him. That is a category of one.

Barbara Berdine Graham (1926-2016) Warren High School Class of 1944



1944 Dragon yearbook

Barbara's high-school activities:
Basketball (2, 3, 4); Bookkeeping Club (2); Carnival (2, 3); Girls' A. A. (2, 3); Girls' Club (2, 3, 4); Junior Chamber of Commerce (2); Stenographers' Club (3, 4).

1967 Warren City Directory
  • Graham Clifford (Barbara A) clk PG [Pennsylvania Gas] h114 Frank
1983 Warren City Directory
  • Graham Barbara A Mrs aide Warren State Hosp h114 Frank St
  • Graham Clifford & Joan; surveyor Natl Fuel Gas h109 Averill St
  • Graham David L & Elke A; emp Big Wheel Tire h418 Laurel St
  • Graham Elke A Mrs emp NP [New Process] h418 Laurel St

The popularity of 'Barbara' as a baby name is graphed here.

Let's take a look at Theodore.


'Theodore' got a boost from this guy in the early 20th century and is currently experiencing a resurgence.

Other members of the class of '44:
Grace Youug Strand.  (2/13/2016)
Mary Davis Christensen Spencer.  (9/27/2015)
Leonard Lucia.  (7/4/2015)
Mary Blackwell Bancroft.   (6/22/2015)
Kenneth Klenck.  (1/31/2015)
Dolores Nuhfer Anthony.  (9/21/2014)
Marjorie Christensen Anderson.  (10/6/2013)

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

McConnell, Ryan, Graham, and Corker prefer to stand with Obama rather than Trump



Source of column B:  Top Republicans join Obama in condemning Trump’s words.  (Washington Post, 6/15/2016)

I say I see something deficient and dreadful in the Governor's office


According to Walker, the biggest thing is not easy access to excess firepower.  


As quoted in In light of Orlando shooting, Scott Walker puts focus on 'if you see something, say something'.  (Madison.com, 6/15/2016)
Rather than moving to restrict or expand gun laws, Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday that people should report suspicious behavior to law enforcement to prevent attacks like the mass shooting at an Orlando gay club last weekend.

Crime Stoppers, which started out as a local program in Albuquerque, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

If You See Something, Say Something

Related articles.
Murders in Albuquerque up sharply in 2015.  (Albuquerque Journal, 1/5/2016)
The dangers of 'See Something, Say Something'.  (Huffington Post, 1/25/2016)

Wisconsin legislator Jesse Kremer offers his words of healing in aftermath of Orlando massacre


Meet one of the wackiest ships in Wisconsin politics.


As quoted in Battle erupts between Wisconsin Reps. Jesse Kremer, Mandela Barnes in wake of Orlando shooting.  (Madison.com, 6/14/2016)

Other Jesse Kremer posts:
NC-17 (at least): Inside the bizarre, twisted mind of Jesse Kremer.  (4/27/2016)
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)

Duey Stroebel, one of the wackiest ships in Wisconsin politics, meets Lauren Bacall



As quoted in Highway project delays rack up $700 million cost overruns.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/13/2016)


Related reading:
Survey: Wisconsin Residents Prefer Increased Fees Over Borrowing To Pay For Roads.  (Wisconsin Public Radio, 8/22/2015)
Fees -- as in an increased registration fee and/or gas tax.

Related posts:
Dear Mark, You need one of these. Best, Retiring Guy.  (5/19/2016)
Duey Stroebel gives full-throated support to GOP special interests.  (3/19/2016)
Meet Wisconsin's version of the Freedom Caucus crazies.  (3/17/2016)
Somebody must have told Duey Stroebel that a spoonful of sugar helps the conservative message go down.  (2/16 /2016)
Neanderthals in Wisconsin state legislature support Ted Cruz.  (2/16/2016)
Dear Duey, Your next election is in the future.  (1/21/2016)
School referenda: Wisconsin legislators Schraa and Stroebel are being disingenuous at best, lying at worst.  (12/18/2015)
A special moment in the Wisconsin State Senate: Scott Fitzgerald gets Duey-eyed.  (4/21/2015)
3 Republicans, 0 Democrats in the running for Glenn Grothman's state senate seat.  (2/12/2015)
Who's running for office in Wisconsin's 20th Senate district wow that Mr. Grothman is going to Washington.  (12/17/2014)
To the tune of $692,000.  (8/14/2014)
Duey Stroebel can't be bothered with fundraising, looks to buy seat instead.  (8/1/2014)
Duey Stroebel bashes his fellow Republican opponents while wearing a hardhat.  (7/27/2014)

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

You can pick up a load of Donald Trump's integrity right here


Photo by Retiring Guy


As reported in Trump says he is revoking Washington Post credentials.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/14/2016)

Monday, June 13, 2016

Dear Donald Trump, This is a picture of me with the afghan my grandmother crocheted



Donald Trump claims Orlando shooter was ‘born in Afghan’.  (Death and Taxes, 6/13/2016)

Source:  Merriam-Webster

Donald Trump:  All of the above

Wisconsin Department of Transportation announces shortage of 1's for license plates


Photo by Retiring Guy

Actually, you can get anything your little heart desires, within reason*, on your personalized license plate.

(*As long as it's not already in use or "considered misleading or offensive".)

You have to wonder how this rumor got started



As tracked by Real Clear Politics

As viewed from within the state of Wisconsin
Marquette University Law School poll

Do dooby dooby
Sha la la la...

Ch-ch-ch-changes: Scott Walker sings a different tune about time commitment



As quoted in Gov. Walker won't commit to full term if re-elected.  (Green Bay Press-Gazette, 9/26/2014)

Enter Donald Trump.


As quoted in Scott Walker squashing rumors of replacing Trump leads list of most-read stories.  (Madison.com, 6/12/2016)

If this statement doesn't sum up Paul Ryan's scary agenda, nothing will



As quoted in Ryan on Trump's judge comments: "He has to fix this.".  (Madison.com, 6/12/2016)

Paul Ryan and his GOP colleagues have "A Better Way" to crush your heart and spirit.


Note the absence of any mention of a living wage.



"We have to go bold", Ryan proclaims.   (Sound familiar?)

I put as much stock in Ryan's principles as I do in this cartoon conservative principle.


Dear Mike Koval, Perhaps there is one thing that is worse: Donald Trump's braggadocio


Noonish on Sunday, June 12

 4-ish p.m. on Sunday, June 12

As quote in A shooting like Orlando can happen anywhere, local leaders say.  (Madison.com, 6/13/2016)

Related post:
Dear Tommy Christopher, Omar Mateen slipped out; he was born in the USA.  (6/12/2016)

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Dear Tommy Christopher, Omar Mateen slipped out; he was born in the USA


He was an American citizen, born in New York City.

Photo credit:  Truth Revolt
(Emphasis added within excerpt)

As blabbered in Maybe We Do Need a Temporary Ban, Just Until We Can Figure This Out.  (Mediaite, 6/12/2016)

Giving Jeff Sessions a pass, clueless Chuck Todd demonstrates his selective listening skills


Crooks and Liars, 6/12/2016


As quoted in GOP Senator on Orlando: ‘More of These Attacks Are Coming’.  (Mediaite, 6/12/2016)

Sessions is one of the U.S. Senate's conservative warriors.

Who's running for state office in Wisconsin 2016 (The unopposed edition)


The following 6 members of the State Senate (3 Republicans, 3 Democrats) and 37 members of the State Assembly (20 Republicans, 17 Democrats) are running unopposed for re-election.  

Source:  Wisconsin Government Accountability Board:  Candidates on Ballot by Election.



 Rep. Kessler served in the state legislature from 1960-1970 and has currently served since 2005.


Rep. Barca served in the state legislature from 1984-1992 and has currently served since 2008.


Mapped.