Steve Chapman, writing in a reposted 2007 article at Reason, explains Why the Right Shifted on Immigration. Chapman thinks the shift began with the fall of the Berlin Wall, when many conservatives no longer saw immigrants trying to reach our shores as proof of America’s sound economy and society. If so, consider the cynicism of…
Politics
Corruption Probe, Daily Adams, Gov. Walker, Law, Politics
Wisconsin’s Shoddy Partisan Analysis
by JOHN ADAMS •
Wisconsin has a fuller political calendar than most states: we’ve not merely the traditional state and federal races, but recall elections likely for May and June. A libertarian will look at these issues with sharp interest, but without a partisan attachment. Perhaps all those contests, sure to be fought tooth and nail, have made some…
Elections, Politics, Recall, Uncategorized
Assessing the (Current) Recall Challengers’ Public Speaking
by JOHN ADAMS •
As I write, there are three declared challengers to Gov. Walker, should there be (as there will be, really) a gubernatorial recall race. More will enter, but for now it’s Kathleen Falk, Hari Trevedi, and Kathleen Vinehout. I’ll consider their presentations at the challenger-friendly Fourth Annual Grassroots Fest Candidate Forum held February 18, 2012 in…
Elections, Politics, Recall
Reviewing Kathleen Vinehout’s Initial Campaign Steps in a Recall Race
by JOHN ADAMS •
Many Wisconsinites have never heard of Kathleen Vinehout, a Democratic state senator representing western Wisconsin’s 31st Senate District. (Vinehout lives in tiny Alma, population 781.) She, like all her partisan senate colleagues, left the state in 2010 to prevent a quorum. She was not, and is not, as well-known as some of those who left…
Politics, Presidential race 2012
Gingrich on Reagan, 1992
by JOHN ADAMS •
One finds all one would ever need to know about candidate Newt Gingrich in his remarks on Reagan from a 1992 speech to the ‘National Academy of Public Administration’: ….he didn’t think government mattered…. The Reagan failure was to grossly undervalue the centrality of government as the organizing mechanism for reinforcing societal behavior.” There’s Gingrich:…
Politics, Presidential race 2012
Wisconsin: Obama, Catholic vote, and contraception mandate
by JOHN ADAMS •
Craig Gilbert crunches the numbers. This is bad and overreaching policy, and it’s surely bad politics. It’s is an unforced error, and never should have happened this year. Many who support a contraception requirement were already going to vote for Pres. Obama; it’s some of those who don’t support a requirement who were in play, and…
Libertarians, Politics, Presidential race 2012
The Tea Party’s Tepid Support for Ron Paul
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Tea Party’s not even warm for Ron Paul, and CNN anchor Ashleigh Banfield asks Dick Armey why that’s so. Armey doesn’t speak for every Tea Party group (Banfield’s introduction actually inflates his role within that movement). Still, why? Although I don’t think Paul’s libertarian enough, that shouldn’t stop the Tea Parties from favoring him…
Politics, Poll, Wisconsin
On Marquette’s January Political Poll
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve posted before about a new poll, from pollster Charles Franklin, now visiting at Marquette (from UW-Madison). Link to poll: Walker and Obama have single digit leads in Marquette Law School Poll and results & data (instrument, methodology, and full topline results). Franklin’s a serious pollster and political scientist, and he’s one of the founders…
Politics
Pointers on Pointing
by JOHN ADAMS •
Few images look worse than an angry person who points at someone during a confrontation. Better to keep one’s hands at one’s side, or in one’s pockets if the temptation to gesture is too strong. This is especially true when the woman pointing is poorly dressed, with unfashionable, loud clothing, poor makeup over leathery skin,…
Gov. Walker, Politics, Poll, Presidential race 2012, Recall
Marquette Political Poll: Walker, Obama up slightly in Wisconsin
by JOHN ADAMS •
The first of Charles Franklin’s polls while visiting at Marquette is now available online : Walker and Obama have single digit leads in Marquette Law School Poll. I’ll review the poll tonight, and post more tomorrow. The results are — at first glance — more disparate (and almost conflicting) than one might have expected, but…
Politics, Sports
The Missing Goalie
by JOHN ADAMS •
Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas declined to attend a White House meeting with Pres. Obama after the Bruins won the Stanley Cup. Thomas wrote about his decision on his Facebook page, as the Chicago Tribune reports. Perhaps it’s because he’s a libertarian, but more likely, he’s a Tea Party member. (If he were on the…
Federal Government, Libertarians, Politics, Presidential race 2012
Libertarian Live Blog of the 2012 State of the Union Address and GOP Response
by JOHN ADAMS •
Politics, Recall
Interview with recall challenger Kathleen Falk
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s an interview on Wisconsin Public Television that news anchor Frederica Freyberg conducts with Kathleen Falk, a declared challenger to Scott Walker in a recall campaign. It’s well-worth watching, and I have embedded the program below. I’ve reviewed Falk’s video announcement, and this interview reveals some of the same problems of delivery and presentation that…
Campaign Ads, Politics, Presidential race 2012, Review
Reviewing Pres. Obama’s First 2012 Campaign Ad
by JOHN ADAMS •
Pres. Obama’s released his first campaign commercial of the 2012 election. Here are impressions of the commercial (playing in Wisconsin), embedded below. They address the politics, and not the merits, of Obama’s message. Video quality. As one might expect at this level, the video looks great — sharp, with brisk pacing, and a good mix…