The draft wasn’t popular in 1862, and it wasn’t so critical, as the overwhelming number of Wisconsinites serving to preserve the Union were volunteers. Still, there were angry residents to be assuaged… Via Odd Wisconsin @ Wisconsin State Journal .
Wisconsin
History, Recall, Wisconsin
History of Recall Elections in Wisconsin
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Politics, Poll, Wisconsin
On Marquette’s January Political Poll
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
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…
History, Wisconsin
A Wisconsin archeological blunder from 1878
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
When white settlers arrived in Wisconsin, they were intrigued by the ancient mounds that dotted the landscape. This sparked excitement about archaeology generally, and during the late 19th century the discovery of new “antiquities” fueled speculation about the state’s ancient past. It also led to one memorable blunder in 1878 concerning a find at Hartford, in Washington Co.…
Animals, Science/Nature, Wisconsin
Winter bald-eagle-watching events held around state
by JOHN ADAMS •
Well worth watching: Each winter, hundreds of bald eagles congregate along areas of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers where they feed on fish in the open water below dams. Wildlife officials say this is the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the lower 48 states, offering some of the best eagle viewing in the…
Local Government, Wisconsin
Something Worse than Partisan
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s an even-handed story at the Janesville Gazette about Wisconsin’s non-partisan local elections. Some of those interviewed are sure that partisanship is a bad thing, and that it gets in the way of serving citizens, etc. I understand this view, and however well-intentioned, it’s one with which I strongly disagree. (The story presents diverse points…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Wisconsin
The Journal Sentinel on Justice Gableman’s Receipt of Free Legal Services (and a bit about the story, itself)
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over the the Journal Sentinel, there’s a story about Justice Gableman’s deciding votes on cases in which the Michael Best & Friedrich firm represented the victorious party, despite his receipt of free legal services from that firm: State Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman in two cases cast the deciding vote in favor of parties represented…
Economy, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Poor Record of Job Creation
by JOHN ADAMS •
We’ve had five straight months of job losses in Wisconsin, with another 14,600 jobs, including 11,700 in the private sector, lost last month. You know, and I know, that Gov. Walker insists that Wisconsin is open for business. I’m sure it is; I’m equally sure that when most people use that expression, they’re not thinking…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Wisconsin
The Disgrace of Wisconsin’s Photo ID Law: Rules leave village leader without right to vote
by JOHN ADAMS •
Although obviously a citizen by birth, and although she’s served on the Brokaw Village Board since 1996, Ruthelle Frank is now disenfranchised: Ruthelle Frank was born Aug. 21, 1927, in her home in Brokaw. It was a hard birth; there were complications. A doctor had to come up from Wausau to see that she and her…
Animals, Nature, Wisconsin
New ‘deer czar’ absent for deer hunt
by JOHN ADAMS •
Police, Press Release, Wisconsin
25th Annual Wisconsin Troopers’ Association Art & Essay Contest
by JOHN ADAMS •
City, Freedom of Speech, Politics, Recall, University, Wisconsin
On Occupy Whitewater, 11.17.11
by JOHN ADAMS •
There was an Occupy Whitewater protest and rally on November 17 through this morning. Some attended a protest yesterday, a GOP counter-demonstration, a talk with three Democratic politicians, or camped over. The photograph above is from the morning of the eighteenth, with tents from those sleeping overnight occupying Whitewater. As one could tell, from the…
City, Economy, Free Markets, Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Wisconsin
The War on Immigrants
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at Reason’s blog, libertarian Shikha Dalmia writes on Alabama’s War on Immigrants. The essay is solid from beginning to end. I’d recommend readers to consider her full essay, but I’ll quote now from a few key passages. Overview: Conservatives are resorting to ever more draconian measures to take back the country from “illegal immigrants.”…
Economy, Education, Government Spending, Planning, Wisconsin
Additional State Budget Cuts, Lapse Provisions, and the Failure of State Planning
by JOHN ADAMS •
A reader kindly passed along an email from UW President Kevin Reilly to the entire UW System about additional budget cuts proposed for Wisconsin’s public universities. I’ve included the content of Reilly’s message below. Readers may have different opinions about all this, but even staunch supporters of the Walker Administration should see this as (at…