Kathleen Falk, former Dane County Executive, declared her candidacy yesterday for governor. Below I have embedded her video declaration, a screenshot of her website, and a chart from the Journal Sentinel of Democrats who may run against Walker. These are first impressions of Falk’s campaign announcement. They address only the politics, and not the merits,…
Politics
Gov. Walker, Politics, Recall
Lavish, but defensive, spending on Gov. Walker’s behalf
by JOHN ADAMS •
Lisa Mux, writing at Blogging Blue, describes a well-attended Americans for Prosperity event that touted the Walker Administration’s record: The entire event was carefully orchestrated and the true reality of what Walker has done to the middle-class in Wisconsin was scrubbed, sanitized, and handed back to the audience in an easily digestible format. From the…
Free Markets, Immigration, Laws/Regulations, Politics
The GOP’s Wrong Turn on Immigration
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at National Review, libertarian Daniel Griswold makes the case for liberalized immigration policies, by reminding Republicans that current GOP Candidates Betray the Spirit of Reagan on Immigration. Commenters at the site will have none of it, and are highly critical of Griswold’s views. Their criticism matters no more than if flat-earthers railed against the…
City, Laws/Regulations, Politics
For Whitewater, some contested races are better than none
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater will see two contested Council races this year, for a district and an at-large seat. The at-large race will assure the city at least one new Council member from the two candidates; the district race has one incumbent and one challenger. (The school district has no contested races.) If our laws were less burdensome,…
Libertarians, Politics, Presidential race 2012
Rick Santorum’s nephew supports Ron Paul
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve had some doubts about whether Ron Paul is libertarian enough, but I’ve no doubt that he’s better on issues of market and political freedom than Rick Santorum. Santorum’s nephew feels the same way about his uncle, and so is supporting Paul: It is not the government’s job to dictate to individuals how they must…
City, Politics
Predictions for 2012
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s my amateur version of the late William Safire’s long-standing tradition of offering annual predictions. The list for 2012: 1. In 2012, UW-Whitewater will win the following number of national sports championships: A. None B. One C. Two D. More than two 2. The Whitewater citywide vote for president will be A. A clear win…
Politics
Little change in Americans’ views of capitalism and socialism
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Pew Center reports that Americans’ views of these conflicting economic arrangements haven’t changed much since 2010. That’s from an overall survey, however; some Americans’ views and political participation have surely changed. Which matters more: that the views of most are unchanged, or that some are of changed opinions (and perhaps increased motivation)? I’m not…
City, Laws/Regulations, Politics
How to Keep Roma or Bedouin from Dominating Whitewater, Wisconsin’s Politics
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here in our exceptional city of 14,622, we can’t be too careful about outside influences, nefarious plots, and the reputed scheming of Madisonians to force every man, woman, and child in the city to wear tie-dye clothing. And yet, and yet, there’s something even worse than these unsettling threats: at any moment, hordes of Roma…
Libertarians, Politics, Presidential race 2012, Uncategorized
Who is a Ron Paul supporter?
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a story at the Washington Post website describing GOP candidate Ron Paul’s supporters. They’re younger, more secular, and more dedicated than other Republicans. That they’re disproportionately younger suggests to me that they’re not from movement families (that is, they’re not from old and longstanding libertarian households). Paul, to his credit, has attracted an energetic,…
Libertarians, Politics
John Stossel wonders: Will 2012 be a Libertarian Year?
by JOHN ADAMS •
I don’t know, really, but I’m inclined to answer paradoxically that it’s never a libertarian year, and yet it’s always one. If one means by libertarian year the election of lots of libertarians, then the answer’s surely no. There are lots of Republicans and Democrats, not lots of Libertarians. Yet, if one means that libertarian…
Libertarians, Politics, Presidential race 2012
Update: Ron Paul Storms Out Walks Away During CNN Interview Over Newsletter Questions
by JOHN ADAMS •
City, Libertarians, Politics
Offices, Debates, Local Politics
by JOHN ADAMS •
Politics, Recall
Sen. Majority Leader Fitzgerald’s 12.19.11 Open Office
by JOHN ADAMS •
One should expect a few things of a politician, and among them one would hope to find honesty, commitment to principle, hard work, and a comfort and ease around his or her constituents. There’s a video of a recall organizer and potential candidate, Lori Compas, at a town hall meeting of the state senator she…
Politics, Recall
The WISGOP Ad: Your Money
by JOHN ADAMS •
In the prior post, The WisDems’ New Ad: I recall, one sees the Democrats’ recall approach. In the ad below, from the Walker campaign, one sees Lt. Gov. Kleefisch answering those who wonder whether the Walker Admin has achieved what it promised. Here’s Your Money: Watching the two ads, there’s a different presentation of the…