I posted earlier today on the effort of a Milwaukee woman running as an independent candidate for the Wisconsin Assembly to use the words “NOT the whiteman’s bitch” as her statement of principle on the ballot. The Government Accountability Board denied her request, as she received a majority supporting her effort, but not the required…
Politics
Libertarians, Politics
“Libertarian Influence”
by JOHN ADAMS •
At Fox Business, the topic’s “Libertarian Influence,” as Judge Andrew Napolitano talks with Nick Gillespie, Virginia Postrel, and John Stossel about the increasingly libertarian direction of American politics. Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com Link: http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4285389/libertarian-influence/
Freedom of Speech, Law, Politics
Let Ieshuh Griffin Run with Her Chosen Description on the Wisconsin Ballot
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’d never heard of Ieshuh Griffin, an independent candidate for a seat in Wisconsin’s Assembly, until Wednesday. I read yesterday about the Government Accountability Board’s denial of her request to describe her candidacy on the November ballot with the words “NOT the Whiteman’s Bitch.” (Candidates may have a brief description of their candidacies on the…
Politics
Democrats in Wisconsin Squander Incumbency: The Burden Tom Barrett Bears
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at the left-of-center Capital Times, John Nichols writes about the many difficulties Wisconsin Democrats will have this year. In What Barrett Must Do to Win Governor’s race, Nichols is candid about the difficult terrain for Democrats: The gray governorship of Jim Doyle is edging to a close after eight years of uninspired managerialism. Even…
Politics
Republicans Jump Too Quickly: “Baldwin Kept on Ballot After Board Nixes Complaint”
by JOHN ADAMS •
Last week, Dane County’s Young Republicans challenged the campaign papers of U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin, alleging that she had improperly listed her Congressional office as her home address (and declaring that she was likely residing outside her district). I received an email copy of the Republicans’ press release. The release surprised me, because Baldwin has…
Elkhorn, Politics
Walworth County Today: Walworth County Wants Public Input on Board Size (politicians complaining about a large workload)
by JOHN ADAMS •
Walworth County, where I Iive, voted to reduce the size of its county board of supervisors from 25 to 11, in 2007. I read today that at least one supervisor on the board now wants to talk about expanding the board again, because the smaller board size means more work for elected officials. There’s a…
Laws/Regulations, Politics
FoodConsumer.org: “The Despicable Reason Behind Raw Milk Bans”
by JOHN ADAMS •
Why is raw milk banned even in Amerca’s Dairyland? Over at Food Consumer, there’s a story that reveals The Despicable Reason Behind Raw Milk Bans. From the comments to the post, here’s a nice summary of what lies beneath the war against natural, unpasteurized milk: The FDA and CDC have been particularly aggressive recently in…
Politics
Dog Bites Man: Poll Shows Unhappiness with Wisconsin Politicians
by JOHN ADAMS •
Libertarians, Politics
Wisconsin Independent Parties Struggle to Keep Places on Ballot
by JOHN ADAMS •
The inability of Libertarians and Greens to field more candidates affects ballot access in the future. They will have to wait until 2012 to regain qualified status. In the meantime, thousands of green or libertarian-leaning voters will influence races within major party contests. It’s really the difference between being libertarian and Libertarian. See, Libertarian and…
City, Planning, Politics, Uncategorized
Persistence in the Wrong Course
by JOHN ADAMS •
At the conservative Commentary, Peter Wehner offers a critical assessment of the federal administration that I think would be more apt for the municipal administration of Whitewater, Wisconsin: Its policies are failing, its popularity is sinking, its excuses aren’t working, and its incompetence is showing. Yet the administration appears incapable of admitting – even to…
Government Spending, Politics
Amity Shlaes on Government’s Arrogance
by JOHN ADAMS •
In a essay at Bloomberg, Amity Shlaes, fellow in history at the Council on Foreign Relations, writes that Arrogance Surplus Leads to Government Excesses: Commentary by Amity Shlaes. She describes the arrogance of lawmakers and planners in Washington, D.C. (and what she writes would apply just as accurately to state and local governments): The problem…
Politics
Unfounded Charges Against the Tea Party Movement
by JOHN ADAMS •
Yesterday, at its annual convention in Kansas City, the NAACP issued a resolution condemning elements of the Tea Party movement as racist. It’s an over-reaction to that movement, and debases legitimate charges of racism. No matter how controversial or unwelcome the Tea Party wave is for the left, it’s not a racist movement, and certainly…
Politics, Press
The Congressman’s Constituents
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a video making its way through cyberspace that’s sure to the the first of many like it this election year. The video shows the reaction of participants in a town hall meeting to Congressman Brad Sherman’s declaration that he knew nothing about a Department of Justice dismissal of a case against of voter intimidation…
Economy, Free Markets, Law, Laws/Regulations, Politics
Milk, Wisconsin Dairies, Competition, and Anti-Trust
by JOHN ADAMS •
Jessica Vanegeren of the Capital Times has a thorough story online about the dairy industry in Wisconsin and beyond, entitled, Does Dean Foods Have Unfair Advantage? Hers is thorough description of the Wisconsin dairy scene, emphasizing the influence of Dean Foods. I would only add that our outgoing governor has shown himself susceptible of pressure…