Someone asked me about opinion-making — whether it’s possible to create and control opinion. The question was about whether a newspaper or website could push a candidate to the front, and thus assure that candidate’s success. I’ve been writing for years, about sundry topics, but I don’t believe in opinion-making. People make up their own…
Politics
City, Laws/Regulations, Politics, Wisconsin
A Freshman Legislator’s Unusual Choice
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s an AP story over at Walworth County Today entitled, Rep. Wynn pushes for earlier alcohol sales as a convenience to tailgaters. Rep. Evan Wynn is the freshman assemblyman representing the 43rd Assembly District, a district that includes Whitewater. I’m opposed to most restrictions on alcohol, but it’s easy to see that this is an…
City, Politics
Whither Whitewater’s Democrats?
by JOHN ADAMS •
At a time of large labor protests, the near-victory of a previously-unknown Supreme Court candidate, and the prospect of recall elections against six GOP state senators, can Whitewater’s Democrats have a hard time in 2012? Yes, for at least two reasons. First, successful restrictions on public employees’ collective bargaining rights are meant to reduce unions’…
Government Spending, Politics, University
4.3 Beats 35
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a story over at the Janesville Gazette about the budget for UW-Whitewater: WHITEWATER – Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to slash funding to state universities could drain as much as $4.3 million from UW-Whitewater’s 2011-12 base budget, college administrators estimate. See, Walker plan could cut $4.3 million from UW-W — GazetteXtra. The story comes despite…
Freedom of Speech, Open Government, Politics, Press, Press Release
Tracking the Influence of Money in Politics
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism has issued a press release with good news about new resources to track the influence of money in politics. Here’s the press release, with links to a new tracking website: The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and MAPLight.org, a nonpartisan nonprofit research organization, today announced a major initiative to…
City, Freedom of Speech, Politics
On Forward Whitewater
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a new political group, Forward Whitewater, recently formed in the city. The organization has its own Facebook page. (Note: I’ve been a libertarian critic of Gov. Walker, but I have no connection to Forward Whitewater.) Here’s the description and mission of the group, from Facebook: Description — Forward Whitewater is a group of citizens…
Law, Politics, Wisconsin
Of JoAnne Kloppenburg
by JOHN ADAMS •
On the Saturday before the April election, JoAnne Kloppenburg visited Whitewater, and I went out to see her. Like most people, I’d never seen her in person, and wanted to hear her talk. (Justice Prosser’s had a more public career, in the legislature and more recently on the court; many people have run into him,…
City, Politics, Walworth County, Wisconsin
Post-Election Day in Whitewater
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ll take the topics from yesterday’s election preview post in reverse order. Wisconsin. Justice Prosser did far better than I guessed; Asst. A.G. Kloppenburg certainly didn’t win comfortably. I would have thought Kloppenburg by 2-3 percent, outside the range of a recount. There will be a recount, with results now showing Kloppenburg with 739,589 and…
City, Politics, Walworth County, Wisconsin
Election Day Curiosities
by JOHN ADAMS •
Before the polls close, a few questions of note about the spring election for the City of Whitewater, Walworth County, and Wisconsin. City of Whitewater What’s Whitewater’s turnout today? Assuming that JoAnnne Kloppenburg carries Whitewater, by what margin will she do so? (If she can’t carry places like the City of Whitewater, she’s likely in…
Freedom of Speech, Liberty, Politics
Video from a Janesville Protest, 3.29.11
by JOHN ADAMS •
Freedom of Speech, Liberty, Politics, Wisconsin
Scenes from a Janesville Protest, 3.29.11
by JOHN ADAMS •
Government Spending, Liberty, Politics, University
Thirty-Five Million’s Not the Answer
by JOHN ADAMS •
You may have heard that UW-Whitewater’s in line for thirty-five million in construction spending. All those millions, but still a march of UW-Whitewater professors to Madison to protest the governor’s budget. (I posted on the trek, as reported in the Janesville Gazette, on March 23rd at Daily Wisconsin.) Why would they walk all that way?…
Politics, University
“Understanding Wisconsin Politics” – Former State Senator, Assemblyman Mordecai Lee to Speak at UW-Whitewater
by JOHN ADAMS •
Freedom of Speech, Politics
Gadsden and Taunton Flags
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Tea Party found its banner in the Gadsden flag, but I don’t know whether the union protesters will come to adopt a flag of their own. I saw that protesters at the Capitol were flying the Tautnon flag, used by patriots in Taunton, Mass. The flag symbolized their hope for liberty and equal rights…