November 21, 2008 by brewcityzen
I can’t see how anyone would dispute that this would be a much-needed and long overdue piece of legislation. Milwaukee-based state senator Tim Carpenter plans to introduce legislation to eliminate the so-called “Frankenstein veto” from the toolbox of the state’s County Executives–a perfectly sensible step considering that Wisconsin voters finally rid the state’s governor of that authority by referendum last year.
Carpenter has gotten around to this legislation in the most savvy of ways–by first taking on the authority of the governor from his very own party, and only now moving to target County Executives. It is no secret that his primary concern is Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.
Regardless of the ideology of whomever happens to hold the veto pen, the Frankenstein veto is an embarrassment to Wisconsin. This example of the use of the veto by Governor Doyle perfectly illustrates the absurd and potentially dangerous nature of this power. Write your state senator and urge them to support Carpenter’s legislation.
Oh, and one other thing. Even though Scott Walker’s use of the veto, as opposed to some Democrat’s, is the primary target here, we expect full-throated support of this legislation from right-wingers who went crazy over the need to take this authority from Doyle’s hands (despite never mentioning a word of this when Tommy Boy or the forgettable Scott McCallum were in charge.)
Yes, I’m looking in your direction, Pheistyblog. And Badger Blog Alliance. And Althouse. And Boots and Sabers (by the way is there anything more disgusting or anti-American than the ad that site is running for the “Impeach Obama” store? What an astonishing hatred for democracy. Newsflash: you can’t impeach a president-elect.) And Real Debate Wisconsin. And Charlie Sykes.
(Sidenote: Why does WTMJ apparently delete the archives from Charlie’s blog, by the way? Shouldn’t all of us be able to go back and bask in his incredible wisdom and foresight whenever we feel the need?)
Tags: Charlie Sykes, Frankenstein veto, Tim Carpenter, Wisconsin Senate
Posted in Politics | 1 Comment »
November 21, 2008 by brewcityzen
I recently had the pleasure of seeing Eurydice, the play by Pulitzer Prize nominee Sarah Ruhl currently running at the Repertory Theater. It’s the first play I have seen in some time, but I am glad I went. Frankly, it was over-acted by the two leading players, but much of the supporting cast was excellent, especially the actor portraying Eurydice’s father, who was brilliantly cast.
It would be interesting to see as performed by a truly top-tier cast because the play itself is quite powerful. Ruhl takes a tragedy from Greek mythology, and by adding the gloss of her own personal struggles as a result of the early death of her father, has assembled a profoundly sad story.
If you haven’t already, go see it while it’s here.
Tags: Arts, Eurydice
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November 20, 2008 by brewcityzen
I confess to a bit of schadenfreude (from The Economist):
Another reason is the degeneracy of the conservative intelligentsia itself, a modern-day version of the 1970s liberals it arose to do battle with: trapped in an ideological cocoon, defined by its outer fringes, ruled by dynasties and incapable of adjusting to a changed world. The movement has little to say about today’s pressing problems, such as global warming and the debacle in Iraq, and expends too much of its energy on xenophobia, homophobia and opposing stem-cell research.
(h/t Andrew Sullivan)
Tags: conservatives
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November 20, 2008 by brewcityzen
As I mentioned yesterday, I wasn’t as moved as some by the Dan Shelley piece on conservative talk radio in November’s Milwaukee Magazine. Today, Marin Cogan of The New Republic provides what I think is a more illuminating illustration of the intellectual dishonesty that makes up that “industry,” by describing her efforts to discover the source of the “fairness doctrine” boogeyman that the mindless conservative echo chamber has been assailing since election day forever. Money paragraph:
Responses from the offices of most of the Democrats who have been pegged as fairness-doctrine proponents–Schumer, Dick Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, and others–have ranged from a firm denial that the issue is a priority at all to disbelief at finding themselves at the center of a manufactured controversy. “Somebody plucked this out of the clear blue sky,” says the press secretary for New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat who was questioned about the issue by a conservative radio-show host a few weeks ago. “This is a completely made- up issue.”
See also this.
Tags: Charlie Sykes, fairness doctrine, Patrick McIlheran, Rush Limbaugh, talk radio
Posted in Politics | 1 Comment »
November 20, 2008 by brewcityzen
I have to admit–it is easy to get a little bit envious of Tony Romo, what with being the Dallas Cowboys QB, dating Jessica Simpson, making millions of dollars, etc. Hating the Cowboys has frequently meant hating Romo, notwithstanding his Wisconsin connection.
But then he goes and does something like this, and you realize that whomever he plays for, and whoever he may be dating, this is just a good and likeable person–one who reflects extremely well on his home state. Thanks, Tony.
Tags: Good Guys, Tony Romo
Posted in Sports | 1 Comment »
November 20, 2008 by brewcityzen
Finally something sensible from JS columnist Patrick McIlheran, who seems to have unknowingly engaged in a pre-emptive strike addressing the otherwise very good points made by Matthew Yglesias about what can generally be characterized as the intellectual bankruptcy of conservative transportation policy.
Tags: Patrick McIlheran, Transit
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November 20, 2008 by brewcityzen
Doug Hissom of OnMilwaukee.com previews what is sure to be an ugly spring election for the state Supreme Court. The Court’s most recognizable face, Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, one of Wisconsin’s leading legal minds (the Chief Justice is Wisconsin’s only member of the governing Council of the American Law Institute), will likely face yet another challenge funded by Wisconsin’s big business lobby, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, and other special interest organizations. Here’s hoping that her opponent, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randy R. Koschnick, is at least miniminally competent to sit on the state’s highest court, something that certainly can’t be said for the recently elected partisan hack and liar, Michael Gableman.
You can contribute your time and money to the Chief Justice’s reelection here.
Tags: Michael Gableman, Randy Koschnick, Shirley Abrahamson, Wisconsin Supreme Court
Posted in Law | 1 Comment »
November 20, 2008 by brewcityzen
Does anybody else wish this whole Sabathia saga would end as far as the Brewers are concerned? We learn this morning from Tom Haudricourt of the JS that the San Francisco Giants, apparently undetterred by their wretched contract with Barry Zito, are prepared to enter the CC bidding, notwithstanding the Yankees supposedly “overwhelming” offer currently on the table. (The best part of this story is that it suggests the Yankees strategy didn’t quite work–they haven’t scared off the other bidders.)
I love CC. I loved him as a Brewer. I’ll never forget some of his dominant outings–or even his less dominant ones, like his first as a Brewer (for which I was pleased to have prime seats), or his playoff start in Philadelphia. He seems like a great guy, and in my book is fully entitled to collect all that he can to secure his future.
But as a Brewers fan first, I believe firmly in two things right now: 1) CC isn’t going to sign with us because we can’t offer enough money, and 2) even if we could offer enough money, it would be a mistake for the Brewers to invest it one player, even if that player is CC.
I don’t think anyone will disagree with me on point 1, and we can discuss point 2 if you like. But CC isn’t going to be in a Brewers uniform next season, and I’d rather see the team be able to move on and start looking for some other fixes. We discussed Ty Wigginton yesterday on this blog, but what about Jake Peavy? Are we talking to Ben Sheets? Is that even a good idea? What about Kerry Wood or other bullpen help? Are we prepared to trade Mike Cameron? Are we stuck with Bill Hall at third base?
The CC story is sucking up a lot of air on the MLB Hot Stove, but its sucking up ALL the air on the Brewers hot stove. I keep checking MLBTradeRumors.com and hoping for some Brewers gossip, but there just isn’t any–unless, of course, it involves CC.
[UPDATE: Of course, as I'm writing this, I see that the rumors site has two new bits of interest to Brewers fans. One is a link to a NY Daily News interview with Doug Melvin that doesn’t offer much in the way of new information (other than to make me cringe a little bit to see Suppan’s name next to Gallardo as though he were some kind of no. 2 starter). The other is a story out of San Francisco about the Giants, and suggests that they’ve been in light discussions with the Brewers about J.J. Hardy and Prince Fielder. Well, that’s something. Kind of.
Tags: Brewers, CC Sabathia, J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder
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November 19, 2008 by brewcityzen
Apparently the Houston Astros are looking to cut payroll down to $100 million and are shopping Ty Wigginton and Jose Valverde as a result. Depending on your metric of choice, Wigginton was between the fourth and sixth-best third baseman in the National League last season (yes, I know he played some LF too), and the third-best hitter on the Astros (behind Miggy Tejada and El Caballo).
I realize the Brewers are already disproportionately right-handed in their lineup, and that Ty also Ks a fair amount, but he would have been the fourth-best hitter on the Brewers last year (following Braun, Fielder, and Hardy), and his .350 OBP would have exceeded that of every regular Brewers hitter other than Prince.
Certainly intra-division trades are always tricky, but Wigginton is somebody I hope Melvin takes a look at. The Brewers don’t need to add superstars to their lineup, but they need to add something. Third base remains their biggest problem.
Tags: baseball, Brewers, Houston Astros, Ty Wigginton
Posted in Sports | Leave a Comment »
