McKinney Camp Now Playing Race Card

Amazed it took this long.

A lawyer for Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the Georgia congresswoman who had an altercation with a Capitol Police officer, says she was "just a victim of being in Congress while black."

McKinney awaited word Friday on whether she would be charged for apparently striking the officer after she entered a House office building this week unrecognized and did not stop when asked.

Two law enforcement officials said it was unlikely a warrant would be issued this week. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Her lawyer, James W. Myart Jr., said, "Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, like thousands of average Americans across this country, is, too, a victim of the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials because of how she looks and the color of her skin."

"Ms. McKinney is just a victim of being in Congress while black," Myart said. "Congresswoman McKinney will be exonerated."

McKinney / Cop Smackdown

Heh. I'm fairly amused by this.

Capitol Hill police plan to issue an arrest warrant today for Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.).

The warrant is related to the incident Wednesday when McKinney allegedly slapped a Capitol Hill police officer.

Charges could range from assault on a police officer, which is a felony carrying a possible five year prison term, to simple assault, which is a misdeamenor.

McKinney has canceled a news conference that she had scheduled for this morning to discuss the incident.

McKinney issued a statement yesterday saying she "deeply regrets" the confrontation with the police officer.

The six-term congresswoman apparently struck a Capitol Police officer when he tried to stop her from entering a House office building without going through a metal detector. Members of Congress wear identifying lapel pins and routinely are waved into buildings without undergoing security checks. The officer apparently did not recognize McKinney, she said in a statement.

Asked on-camera Thursday by Channel 2 Action News whether she intended to apologize, McKinney refused to comment.

"I know that Capitol Hill Police are securing our safety, and I appreciate the work that they do. I have demonstrated my support for them in the past and I continue to support them now," she said in the statement on her Web site.

Democrats and Republicans, meanwhile, engaged in a rhetorical scuffle over the incident.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday labeled it "a mistake, an unfortunate lack of recognition of a member of Congress." She added that the police officer was not at fault.

"I would not make a big deal of this," said Pelosi, D-Calif.

Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., responded: "How many officers would have to be punched before it becomes a big deal?"

Brewers Fever

I will admit it.

I have Brewers fever.

The international offices of The Markesan Group, LLC will be closed on Monday in honor of the first day of the Milwaukee Brewers playoff hunt.

Bus leaves Wauwatosa at 9:45. I hope to be tailgating by 10am.

Therefore, Dailytakes will also be down for the day. My first official day off from the blog since its inception (although some days have been less than stellar post-wise, I know...)



Me at the Opening of Miller Park.

The Journal Sentinel photog captured this shot at 3:10pm. I believe game time was 7.

Let's hope Monday's game is as exciting as that one was, the tailgate as enjoyable and that the Brewers return to their winning ways after a 14-year rebuilding phase.

Hope springs eternal.

Happy Birthday

Air America is two years old today.

Wish them a happy birthday. It could very well be their last.

UN on IRAN

Stop!

Or, we'll yell stop! Again!

Battle of the Mustaches

vs.
at 10:35pm WITI Fox6 in Milwaukee

Illegal Alien Protests

Many of the marchers ARE anti-American.

From a recent protest regarding US immigration policy:

From a thought-provoking column by Michelle Malkin:

Well, this weekend, militant racism from another protected minority group was on full display. But you wouldn't know it from press accounts that whitewashed or buried the protesters' virulent anti-American hatred.

An estimated 500,000 to 2 million people, untold numbers of them here illegally, took to the streets of Los Angeles to protest strict immigration enforcement and demand blanket amnesty for border violators, visa overstayers, deportation fugitives, immigration document fraud artists, and other lawbreakers. Mexican flags and signs advocating ethnic separatism and supremacy filled the landscape. Demonstrators gleefully defaced posters of President Bush and urged supporters to "Stop the Nazis!" Los Angeles talk show host Tammy Bruce reported that protesters burned American flags and waved placards of the North American continent with America crossed out.

Bet you didn't see that on television.

One of the largest, boldest banners visible from aerial shots of the rally read: "THIS IS STOLEN LAND." Others blared: "CHICANO POWER" and "BROWN IS BEAUTIFUL." (Can you imagine the uproar if someone had come to the rally holding up a sign reading "WHITE IS BEAUTIFUL?") Thugs with masked faces flashed gang signs on the steps of L.A.'s City Hall. Students walked out of classrooms all across southern California chanting, "Latinos, stand up!" Young people raised their fists in defiance, clothed in t-shirts bearing radical leftist guerilla Che Guevera's face and Aztlan emblems.

Aztlan is a long-held notion among Mexico's intellectual elite and political class, which asserts that the American southwest rightly belongs to Mexico. Advocates believe the reclamation (or reconquista) of Aztlan will occur through sheer demographic force. If the rallies across the country are any indication, reconquista is already complete.

Lest you think these ideas are moldy-oldy 1960s' leftovers that no one subscribes to today, listen to Sandra Molina, 16, a junior from L.A.'s Downtown Magnet High School, who complained to the supportive Los Angeles Times: "This is unjust. This land used to belong to us and now they're trying to kick us out."

Most Ridiculous Item of the Day

Feingold asks Watergate figure to testify on censure resolution

John Dean. The Dean that makes Howard Dean seem serious by comparison.

This one-trick (Watergate) pony has been saying for two years that Bush should be impeached "There are many things worse than Watergate," he said. "Taking the nation to war in a time when they might not have had to gone to war, and people dying."

So, I wonder what he's going to say at the committee?

Feingold is brilliant, though. He knows how to hit all the media buttons. This should work out quite nicely for him. Who knows, if he plays his cards right, maybe Dean will sign onto an email appeal for Feingold's Progressive Patriot's PAC?

Doyle's Clean Campaign Pledge

Here's the full extent of the Doyle plan for a clean campaign:

State Elections Board Screw Up

Good move.

Rep. Green asks U.S. JusticeDepartment if State ElectionsBoard decision violates Help America Vote Act
Green warns that State Elections Board decision to soften voter registration requirements could lead to “chaos”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Green Bay) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice Wednesday questioning a recent “ill-advised” decision by the Wisconsin State Elections Board to loosen voter registration requirements in the state. Green said he feared that the decision could jeopardize Wisconsin’s compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and create serious voter registration problems leading up to the federal elections later in the year.

Green's letter to the USDOJ.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Prediciton

The justice who replaces Wilcox will be a graduate of either the UW or Marquette Law Schools....

Heh.

Romney Takes on Big Educrats

Massachusetts Governor and potential GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney is touting education reform, directly taking on the teachers' unions. Specifically, he is promoting merit pay.

The governor's bill seeks to upend the status quo in teacher pay and evaluation that has been written into collective bargaining agreements across the Commonwealth. Specifically, it would offer annual bonuses for teachers with a math or science degree who pass the teacher test in their subject, forgo tenure, and receive a satisfactory year-end evaluation. It would also make teachers in all subjects eligible for a bonus upon receiving an exemplary evaluation and empower superintendents to reward teachers who work in low-performing schools. Crucially, the bill would remove teacher evaluation from the collective bargaining process and establish statewide criteria for assessing each teacher's ''contribution to student learning."

While several states and districts nationwide are experimenting with differential pay for teachers, Romney's proposals are noteworthy for their breadth and the size of the proposed bonuses. All told, an effective math or science teacher could receive up to $15,000 a year in three bonuses.

Catherine Boudreau, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, predictably criticized Romney's proposals as ''inequitable, divisive, and ineffective." The MTA denounced the proposal as ''uniquely designed to destroy collegiality in a school," ignoring the fact that performance pay is routine in such other professions as medicine, law, and engineering, not to mention in the Commonwealth's first-rate universities, including those that are unionized by the MTA.

I'm not keen on tying teachers' pay to students' test performance alone, but I do believe in merit pay in the public schools. Empower school boards and principals to determine what consitutes 'high performance.' Good teachers should be paid more, awful teachers should be let go.

Right now, being a member of the teachers' union gives you a ridiculous amount of job security.

FYI, Romney will be speaking at the Republican Party of Wisconsin state convention this May.

Vote Fraud

Be prepared for the left and the MSM to scream "See, there was no vote fraud in Milwaukee!!!!" based on this story.

Feds dismiss double voting charge
Federal prosecutors have dismissed voter fraud charges against a man whose September trial resulted in a hung jury rather than trying the case again, according to documents filed in federal court in Milwaukee.Enrique Sanders, 25, of Milwaukee, was charged with voting twice in the September 2004 presidential race. After an entire day of deliberations, a jury was unable to reach a verdict in Sanders' case."After considering all of the evidence - including the defendant's conduct on pretrial release and the information submitted to the government regarding the defendant's learning disability - the United States does not believe that a retrial at this time would serve the interests of justice," the prosecution's motion to dismiss says.

Of course, they'll ignore all the other overwhelming evidence they don't like.

Stop the Stop Snitching Movement

As I mentioned yesterday...

It's time for a new attitude in Milwaukee.

• Schwartz reiterated the department's belief that people in the area have information on the boys' disappearance but have not come forward.
  
• Family and friends of Raheim Patrick, the 15-year-old boy who was attacked at a bus stop and later died, said they could think of no reason why anyone would want to harm the teen, according to MPS officials who met with his mother and others Thursday night.
  
• During the robbery, which lasted about two minutes, four customers came and went, said Anne E. Schwartz, department spokeswoman. None has come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call (414) 935-7360 or anonymously at (800) 78-CRIME.

The Respect Kampaign is more than a grammatical farce. It's a blight on the city that should be repudiated at every turn.

Holloway

Next week could be interesting.

Also Monday, Holloway's latest appeal in the ethics case was rejected by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Richard Sankovitz. Holloway had sought to bar the Ethics Board from prosecuting certain counts that allege the chairman used his office for personal gain in a real estate deal with the now-defunct social service agency Opportunities Industrialization Center of Greater Milwaukee.

Holloway contended that those allegations are the province of the district attorney's office, not the Ethics Board.

The Ethics Board is requesting another $150,000 to continue prosecution in the Holloway case. The County Board's Finance Committee is expected to take up the request April 6.

Stay tuned.

Doyle Contract-gate Media Template

The well-rested Dan of the Early Spin gang made a funny.

I’m creating the official Early Spin Jim Doyle Story Template. Anyone is free to use this in any publication. I release all copyright for this post
only.

—————————–

(type of company) Execs Contribute (dollar amount) to Doyle Campaign

Just two (days, weeks, months) (before/after) landing a lucrative state contract that would provide (service) to the state, executives from (company) donated more than (dollars) to the re-election campaign of Governor Jim
Doyle.

According to research done by (research/media group) , none of the people that are listed as giving money from the (in/out) state company have given money to previous campaigns in Wisconsin.

Listed as having given money from the company is CEO ____________the___ (note: If the CEO is married, check records of the spouses name for an identical, large donation) who gave the maximum of $10,000. Also listed as giving money were (list several other employees with smaller, less obvious donations)

“ (insert quote praising Jim Doyle and completely ignoring the issue) “ said Doyle campaign manager (insert current campaign manager) , “and once an investigation has been completed, it will show that there is no pay-to-play with Governor Doyle. (Make sure you do NOT note that the investigation will not happen until after the election)

(this would be a good place to summarize one or two of the 30 or so similar situations)

——————————

this of course is just a template and should be modified for your individual presentation.

Independent Expenditure Guru Rails Against Limits

This was entirely predictable.

Xoff is mocking Mark Green's attempt to limit the power and effectiveness of independent expenditures.

in Greenspeak, a "clean" campaign is one in which the candidate with the most money agrees not to spend it, and both candidates say they abhor independent expenditures, and will penalize themselves if some independent group spends money on their behalf -- which, of course, the law forbids them to control.

This isn't surprising. After all, who is benefiting most from the soft money loophole?

Wisconsin individuals, businesses and tribes gave $194,000 to the Democratic Governors Association, which has given money to a group that has run ads supporting Doyle and criticizing his opponents, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign said.

Now, where does the DGA send a lot of their money?

Records filed last week show the DGA, which took in more than $360,000 from Wisconsin firms and tribes last year, turned around in August and poured $300,000 into the Greater Wisconsin Committee - one of those unregulated groups that spend big bucks on political issue ads, without saying who gave them the dough.

And, finally, what is Xoff's day job?

The Democrats have done little more than whimper about the Republicans and their statehouse shenanigans, but, in the form of the Greater Wisconsin Committee the party hopes to take command of the agenda once again and to raise money.

The Greater Wisconsin Committee is a 501 (c) (4) group, established along lines permitting unlimited fundraising while preserving the anonymity of donors.

The 501 (c) (4) is yet another demon unwittingly unleashed by the McCain-Feingold campaign reforms, and it will certainly proliferate with both parties.

...

The behind-the-scenes guy, as always, is Bill Christofferson, who is smart enough to use the outfit to advance the fortunes of his buddy, Governor Jim Doyle, whom he helped propel into the governorship over Tom Barrett. The group,with its statewide focus, will come in handy for Christofferson

Now, none of this is news, per se. But it helps to remind everyone from time to time how the dots are connected.

New White House Chief of Staff

This could turn out to be a good thing.

Bolten to Replace Card As Chief of Staff

WASHINGTON (AP) -- White House chief of staff Andy Card has resigned and will be replaced by budget director Joshua Bolten, President Bush announced Tuesday amid growing calls for a White House shakeup and Republican concern about Bush's tumbling poll ratings.

Bush announced the changes in an nationally broadcast appearance in the Oval Office.

"I have relied on Andy's wise counsel, his calm in crisis, his absolute integrity and his tireless commitment to public service," Bush said. "The next three years will demand much of those who serve our country. We have a global war to fight and win."

Card, 58, stood stoically with his hands by his sides as Bush lauded his years of service through the Sept. 11 attacks, war and legislative and economic challenges. Gripping the podium, Card said in his farewell: "You're a good man, Mr. President." Card's eyes were watery. Card said he looks forward to just being Bush's friend. Bush then gave him five quick slaps on the back and the two walked out of the Oval Office together.

The libs and many in the MSM will try to make this seem like a White House in turmoil. But the fact is COS is an incredibly demanding job and I believe Andy Card was tired after 5 years at the helm of the staff. He is one of the longest serving chiefs of staff in White House history, for crying out loud, so they should (but won't) cut him some slack.

I've met Josh Bolten. From all accounts he's a good egg. I am sure that Bush will benefit from his fresh perspective, optimism and vigor.

Andy Card deserves our gratitude. He served in an incredibly powerful position during a stressful time of war. As Bolten brings in some new blood and fresh faces, lets hope the new team can build on the experiences of Card and company.

The Bush team needed a shot in the arm. I hope this helps.

Doyle Contract-gate.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The story continues.

Consulting execs give Doyle $45K

Donations made after firms win state contracts

Months after landing lucrative state contracts, executives from two out-of-state consulting firms gave donations totaling nearly $45,000 to Gov. Jim Doyle's re-election campaign.

The donations to Doyle marked the first time that anyone from either company - Chicago-based Equis Corp. and Indianapolis-based Crowe Chizek - gave significant cash to any candidate in Wisconsin, according to an analysis of campaign finance records by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Killer quote:

"Once we started working in Wisconsin, individuals had seen firsthand Gov. Doyle's leadership in transforming Wisconsin's government and they as individuals wanted to support him," she said.

I bet.

Green Campaign Proposal

Press conference is going on right now.

Smart political move.

Policy wise, I dislike the spending limits. But the press damn well better applaud it. They applauded Neumann-Feingold's agreement years ago.

Don't hold your breath, though, if you are hoping Green will receive an even break from the MSM.

Walker Supports Green – Ends GOP Primary

Green starts off general election by calling for clean campaign and spending limits – wants a campaign “the people of Wisconsin deserve.”

WEST ALLIS – In a show of unity, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker joined Republican gubernatorial candidate Congressman Mark Green and other GOP officials at a joint press conference in West Allis Monday afternoon.

“Mark Green shares my commitment to lower taxes and higher standards. He’s a proven common sense conservative leader, and he’s going to make a great governor,” said Walker. “I’mproud to support him, and look forward to working with him to restore integrity and fiscal responsibility to Madison.”

Green heaped praise upon Walker, calling him a “leader of a movement,” and said he was certain both of them would serve as governor in the future.

“Scott’s campaign and my campaign have always had the same goal – to give the good people of the state of Wisconsin a governor who shares their values and their priorities,” said Green.

“Thanks to Scott’s selfless act, we are now closer to achieving just that goal. And, as I told him,we are not going to let him down.”

With the primary ended, Green used the occasion to challenge incumbent Governor Jim Doyle to agree to a “clean campaign pledge” that includes spending limits and restrictions on attack ads by independent organizations. Green said there are more than enough issue-based differences between him and Doyle that neither camp should “resort to personal attacks and distortions of the truth.”

“Jim Doyle and I disagree on the Taxpayers Protection Amendment, we disagree on lawsuit reform, we disagree on education reform, we disagree on the perpetual gaming compacts, we disagree on requiring a photo ID to vote, we disagree on the death penalty and we disagree on law-abiding citizens’ right to use a firearm to protect themselves and the people they love,” said Green. “And that just touches on a few of the differences between Jim Doyle and I – voters should be able make their choice based on those issues, not mudslinging.”

Under the terms of Green’s “clean campaign pledge” he and Doyle would agree to:

• Limit spending in the race to $5,536,200 – that’s $1 for every man, woman and child in Wisconsin.
• Request that independent organizations refrain from running negative attack ads aimed at defeating either one of the candidates.
• Each candidate would agree to publicly repudiate any attack ad aired against their opponent by an independent group.
• Each candidate would also agree to reduce their spending limit by the costs of the advertising associated with a negative independent attack against their opponent.

“More than any election in recent history, we have an obligation to set a higher standard for the conduct of our campaign,” Green wrote in a letter to Doyle. “Committing ourselves to reducing the amount of money involved in the governor’s race and keeping to an issue-oriented debate will demonstrate to the public that we are sincere in our efforts to restore their faith in their elected leaders. Wisconsinites deserve no less.”

In October of 2002, then-candidate Doyle called for a clean campaign pledge when that year’s race for governor had become what many described as the most negative campaign in state history. More recently, Doyle said in a January 8, 2006 Appleton Post-Crescent article that he would agree to clean campaign pledge.

“During your 2002 run for governor, you called for a clean campaign pledge in October of that year because the tone of that campaign had became so overwhelmingly negative. Political pundits are already predicting our race will follow the same path,” Green wrote. “Let’s prove them wrong. Let’s take action today to ensure the 2006 campaign for governor meets the high standards and ideals of the office which week seek.”

Green said he realizes neither candidate can stop an independent group from airing negative ads, but he believes the spending limit and the corresponding reduction to that limit for independent attack ads will have a strong effect, writing “those who think they are ‘helping’ us will know their actions will have a detrimental impact on our campaigns.”

“Governor Doyle, let’s give the people of Wisconsin the kind of campaign they deserve,” Green wrote. “Instead of negative ads and nasty rhetoric, let’s focus on our differences of opinion on important issues. You and I offer voters real choices – and that is what we should spend the next seven months discussing.”

Milwaukee Needs This

It's time for a new attitude in Milwaukee.

• Schwartz reiterated the department's belief that people in the area have information on the boys' disappearance but have not come forward.
  
  
• Family and friends of Raheim Patrick, the 15-year-old boy who was attacked at a bus stop and later died, said they could think of no reason why anyone would want to harm the teen, according to MPS officials who met with his mother and others Thursday night.
  
  
• During the robbery, which lasted about two minutes, four customers came and went, said Anne E. Schwartz, department spokeswoman. None has come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call (414) 935-7360 or anonymously at (800) 78-CRIME.

RIP Tom Metcalfe

We have lost a good man.

Civic leader Metcalfe dies; known for achievements in Madison-area business, politics and community life

MONONA -- Businessman and civic leader Tom Metcalfe, who served a record five terms as mayor of Monona and who founded “The World’s Largest Brat Fest” to benefit local charities, died early Sunday, March 26, 2006, at his home in Monona following a long struggle with cancer. He was 70.

Born into a family of grocers, Metcalfe and his family ran stores in the Milwaukee area, Monona and Madison, including the Sentry Foods store at Hilldale, purchased by the Metcalfe family in 1979. The Hilldale store first hosted the “World’s Largest Brat Fest” in 1983; since then, this Memorial Day weekend event has raised more than $500,000 for local charities.

Metcalfe served as mayor of Monona from 1993 to 2003, and during his tenure the city carried out a number of redevelopment projects while broadening its tax base. He was known for his business-like and customer-oriented approach to the job, and was never opposed for re-election after his initial election.

“When I was mayor, I treated people like they were customers in my grocery store,” Metcalfe once said in describing his role as mayor. “I didn’t become mayor of Monona for personal reasons – I was there to represent the interests of the people of Monona. I sought their input, but in the end somebody had to make the decisions. I like to think I made the decisions that were best for the community as a whole.”

Metcalfe was active in many civic or statewide endeavors, including the Madison Ballet, Friends of Monona Terrace, the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, Friends of WHA, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Monona Chamber of Commerce, the Meriter Foundation Board, the Madison Exchange Club, the Monona Businessman’s Association and the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau. Metcalfe was a driving force behind the campaign to build the new Monona Public Library.

Long active in Republican politics, Metcalfe ran unsuccessfully in 1996 for Wisconsin Senate against then-Majority Leader Chuck Chvala, D-Madison. He was awarded the Lyman F. Anderson Local Government Public Service award by the Republican Party of Dane County in 2005.

Metcalfe also served three terms as chairman of the Wisconsin Grocers Association and was elected Wisconsin’s “Grocer of the Year” in 2004.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret, and their children: Mary Lichtfeld of Monona, Mrs. Steve (Tammy) Johnson of Madison, Tim Metcalfe of Monona, Kevin and Tina Metcalfe of Monona, and 10 grandchildren.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and again from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at a location to be announced. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Door Creek Church, 6602 Dominion, located north of Cottage Grove Road at the intersection of Sprecher Road and Dominion. For full details, check an obituary to be published Tuesday or contact Gunderson Funeral Home at www.gundersonfh.com

The family requests that memorials be considered for one of two organizations:

- The UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave., K4/658, Madison, WI 53792. For more information, visit http://www.cancer.wisc.edu/donations/framedonations.html

- The Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. For more information, visit http://www.hospicecareinc.com

Missing Boys

Live in Milwaukee?

Best use of an hour today...deliver this poster.

Door to door. Grocery stores. Bus stops. Fast food joints.

Illegal means NOT legal.

I am in favor of documenting temporary immigrants within the auspices of a guest worker program. I also believe we should accelerate the green card and citizenship process and welcome those who wish to work.

But I do not favor amnesty for those who are here illegally.

Nor do I favor attempts to portray efforts to grant such amnesty as a push for 'immigrant' rights, as this lame editorial for the Journal Sentinel does.

Not criminals, just our neighbors

The crowd spilled over Zeidler Park into still thronged streets - an estimated 10,000 to 15,000.

The marchers shouted "Justicia! . . . Ahora!" Justice. Now. As a woman on stilts dressed as the Statue of Liberty walked gingerly among them, they carried signs proclaiming, "We're not criminals."

They were immigrants and descendants of immigrants, all hoping that their message in a huge "A Day Without Latinos" rally in Milwaukee Thursday would be heard in Washington.

Unfortunately, much of Congress, particularly the House, has been hard of hearing on this issue. That must change.

The marchers' message boiled down: Immigration is an issue that involves real people - people who work hard, who pay taxes and whose children and grandchildren will, as immigrant waves before them, provide the country's future teachers, doctors and, yes, patriots.

The marchers also were signaling that House legislation in particular that would label many of them felons is particularly pungent. It would build fences where there should be welcoming arms.

More than ever before, our borders need to be secure.

It is a matter of national security.

"Undocumented" means illegal.

Those in this country illegally have committed a crime and are therefore criminals.

It really is that simple.

Walker on Sykes Tv Show Sunday

Charlie Sykes just announced:

SCOTT WALKER ON SUNDAY INSIGHT

I cut short my vacation and will talk with Scott Walker on Sunday Insight Sunday morning.

The show airs at 10 a.m Sunday on Today's TMJ4.

The entire show will be devoted to a one-on-one about his decision to withdraw, what it means for Jim Doyle, the future of Milwaukee County, and what Walker now plans to do.

Among the questions we discuss: Lee Holloway; who will the GOP run against Herb Kohl; how Green will fare as a candidate; the mood in Camp Doyle; will Walker run for re-election; was he pressured by RNC Ken Mehlman to pull out.... Walker is quite candid in all of his responses.

I know I'll be tuning in.

Christian in Afghanistan to be Released?

Good News!

An Afghan Christian facing possible execution for converting from Islam was likely to be released from jail "soon," a senior government official said following huge Western pressure over the case.

"He is likely to be released soon," the official said, adding there would be a top-level meeting on the matter Saturday.

On Scott Walker

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is a good man who has done many good things for Wisconsin since first being elected to the State Assembly and continuing through his tenure as the head of the largest county in the state.

His campaign, of which I was a part for the first six months of 2005, helped bring many important issues to the forefront. Had things worked out differently, Scott could have been a strong leader for the State of Wisconsin. Perhaps his day may yet come some day.

His abrupt withdrawal from the race for Governor had been rumored for a few weeks. But it comes as a shock nonetheless.

I would expect both Scott and his former opponent, Congressman Mark Green, will handle this exit with class and grace.

Today is a tough day for Scott, his family, his campaign staff and the thousands of donors and supporters who had been working on his behalf for many months.

But it will prove to be an even worse day for one other person.

Jim Doyle.

It's Doyle vs. Green now. Green can continue to build his warchest. He can rearrange his campaign schedule and budget to reflect a seven and a half month general election race. He can direct 100 percent of his attention on Jim Doyle.

As we speak, the Greater Wisconsin Committee folks, the Tribes, the trial lawyers, and WEAC are gearing up to blast Mark Green with the most vile onslaught of negative political advertising Wisconsin has ever seen.

Time will tell if the Green Team is up to the challenge, but one thing is certain. That team got a whole lot bigger, and a whole lot stronger, this afternoon.

More, much more, on this in the hours and days ahead.

Walker Exits Race!

JSOnline is reporting:

Walker withdrawing from governor's raceMilwaukee County Executive says he can't match Doyle's fund raising
By DAVE UMHOEFFER

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is pulling the plug on his bid for the governor’s office, leaving fellow Republican Mark Green a clear shot at incumbent Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle in November.

He planned to make the announcement early this evening during a speech at a Republican Party congressional caucus in Waukesha where Green was also scheduled to appear.

"I give my full support and endorsement to my friend Mark Green," Walker said in a speech prepared for a 5th Congressional District audience at the Country Springs Hotel. He released a copy of his remarks this afternoon to the Journal Sentinel.

Walker, who entered the race officially in January 2005, pinned his withdrawal on a failure to meet ramped-up fundraising goals designed to compete with Doyle’s expected biggest-ever campaign war chest.

"It became clear to me that our fundraising totals would only allow us to run a campaign in a fraction of the 72 counties in this state," Walker said. "In addition, our resources would be so limited that most of it would likely be spent on ads attacking our Republican opponent." He called that an "unappealing option for me" and one that would only bolster Doyle’s re-election hopes.

"In the end I love this state too much to see Jim Doyle elected to another term," Walker said. "A campaign that does not focus on Doyle before the primary will almost certainly insure his re-election. To me, that outcome is unacceptable."

Walker said his campaign fundraising fell short of keeping up with Doyle’s record-setting pace, revealed in the late-January campaign reports. Walker said a new minimum goal he set for the end of March was "unfortunately" not reached.

Walker said he prayed on the decision this week before making it, much as he had before his January 2005 announcement entering the race.

"I believe that it was God’s will for me to run. After a great deal of prayer during the last week, it is clear that it is God’s will for me to step out of the race."

Walker thanked his volunteers, friends and many family members who worked on his campaign. Walker, whose current four-year term as county executive ends in 2008, made no mention of any future political plans.

Green, the congressman from Green Bay, entered the race last year with a fundraising lead over Walker by virtue of a $1.3 million fund transfer from his congressional campaign account. Green, from his base in northeastern Wisconsin, has paved the way for a gubernatorial bid for several years. He demonstrated a broader geographical reach in his fundraising last year than Walker, according to campaign finance records.

Now with Walker stepping aside, Green is free to concentrate on his Democratic opponent, and can better attempt to match Doyle’s stated fundraising goal of $12 million.

Walker noted that he and Green had worked together on truth in sentencing and other issues as state legislators in the 1990s.

The Wauwatosa Republican’s gubernatorial campaign was from the start the subject of constant speculation that it would lack staying power against Green, who had traveled the state for years in anticipation of the 2006 campaign. Walker was also fighting against the widely held perception that a Milwaukee-based candidate could not win the governor’s seat. He tried to counter that by arguing that he would draw new GOP voters out of Milwaukee as a Republican on traditionally Democratic turf. He won the exec’s job in 2002 after a pension scandal forced his processor, F. Thomas Ament, from office.

Fresh off his re-election as county executive in 2004, Walker planned a run for governor.

Starting last winter, he pounded the campaign trail statewide with an anti-tax message and frequent potshots at Doyle over ethics issues, spending and other matters.

Walker nearly matched Green’s fundraising in 2005, giving him a boost, but he said he ultimately concluded that his future fundraising would not be enough.

Some Republican Party insiders have publicly expressed their desire to avoid a contentious and expensive September primary that could have played into Doyle’s hands.

Their fears may have been confirmed in early March when Walker for the first time went directly after Green in radio ads aired statewide, leading to a heated exchange in which Green accused Walker of starting his campaign "by telling a lie." Walker’s ad lumped Green and Doyle together for breaking their promises on holding the line on property taxes. The issue involved the state’s commitment to pay for two-thirds of local public school costs.

In December, after nearly a year of campaigning, Walker acknowledged that Green was better-financed, better-organized statewide and might be winning over more party insiders and officials.

But he vowed in a year-end interview to run as an underdog battling party insiders. He steadfastly declared his intention to stay in the race, saying he was best positioned to take on Doyle.

On Friday, as he bowed out, Walker said: "I thought that I would make one heck of a good governor."

Blog Summit Webcast

The much-anticipated webcast is here.

Final Early Spin Temp Gig

I have to admit, I've had a lot of fun this week. Today, in addition to our already full program, I conducted a brief interview with RNC Chair Ken Mehlman. We spoke briefly about Feingold, President Bush, and the war in Iraq.

Tomorrow morning, my final at the helm of the Early Spin, will be a busy one.

6:17: UW Student and Blogger Jenna Pryor will talk to us about the Board of Regents' opposition to the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights

7:05: Mark Fainaru-Wada & Lance Williams, reporters from San Francisco Chronicle and authors of "Game of Shaddows," will chat with us regarding the Barry Bonds steroid controversy.

7:17: It's the IOWA (Idiot of the Week Awards). Stiff competition this week.

8:05: Ray Robinson, military operations research analyst with a defense contractor in aviation and missile research. Most recently he worked as a contractor for DIA with the Iraqi Survey Group. Ron will talk about recently released Saddam tapes.

That, plus my commentary on various news items (including the pro-illegal alien rally), occasional calls on the issues of the day, plus the regular Spinformation Updates and Cut Throat Sports.

Hope you can tune in tomorrow between 5:30 and 8:30 am.

Media Bias

Deep-rooted media bias and hatred toward Republicans makes me sick. I'm going to puke.

Doyle Soft Money Machine Primed

Looks like the Greater Wisconsin Committee will be well-funded indeed.

Leading the list of 527s that received Wisconsin contributions (Table 1) was the Democratic Governors Association which accepted $194,000 from 12 contributors in 2005. The group’s Wisconsin benefactors included longtime Democratic supporter Daniel Bader of Milwaukee and Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha who contributed $50,000 each. Troha and his family are Democratic Governor Jim Doyle’s leading contributors. Troha has partnered with the Menominee and Mohegan Indian tribes to build a controversial $800 million casino in Kenosha. The controversial project needs federal government approval, and then Doyle’s blessing. Three Wisconsin tribes – the Oneida, St. Croix and the Stockbridge Munsee – contributed another $28,000 to the Democratic Governors Association.

As usual, the goo goos at the Wisconsin Demcorats' Campaign downplay the information.

Summerfest

I find great humor in this.

M & I to sponsor Summerfest's Classic Rock Stage

Milwaukee World Festival Inc. announced today that M&I Bank will become the title sponsor of the Classic Rock Stage at Summerfest.

In addition, Fiduciary Management Inc. of Milwaukee will serve as an associate sponsor for the stage on the south end of the Henry Maier Festival Park adjacent to the Marcus Amphitheater.

Don Smiley, president and chief executive officer of Milwaukee World Festival, which operates Summerfest, said, "I am thrilled to welcome M&I and Fiduciary Management as marketing partners. M&I, Fiduciary Management and Milwaukee World Festival Inc. are not only Milwaukee institutions, but also recognized nationally as leaders in their respective industries. This partnership demonstrates our mutual commitment to provide quality and value to music fans in Milwaukee and the nation."

In addition, the Classic Rock Stage will again be supported by associate sponsors FM radio stations 96.5-WKLH and 97.3 The Brew, as well as Miller Lite."

As title sponsor of the Classic Rock Stage, M&I will be supporting a popular Milwaukee tradition," said Dennis Kuester, chairman and CEO of Marshall & Ilsley Corp. "This is an unique opportunity for us to be part of the world's largest music festival."

"Fiduciary Management Inc. is extremely excited at having the opportunity to partner with two of Milwaukee's finest institutions in M&I Bank and Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.," said Ted Kellner, chairman and CEO of Fiduciary Management.

Classic Rock: Sticking it to the Man. Sponsored by, well, the man.

:)

Huge Milwaukee Protest for Illegal Alliens

Looks like I won't be leaving work early today after all.

From JSOnline's DayWatch:
Marchers took to the streets this morning on Milwaukee's south side as part of the "A Day Without Latinos" demonstration. Milwaukee police estimated the crowd at more than 10,000 people.

The demonstration began at Voces de la Frontera on S. 5th St. and moved across the 6th St. Viaduct to Zeidler Park. The marchers are protesting legislative efforts that target undocumented immigrants. Photo from J/S Online by Mark Wilke

They are undocumented because they are not legal aliens.

I don't object to legal immigration. Coming to America to pursue your dreams is what this country is all about. There are ways to do this, legally.

Perhaps we need a more broad guest worker program, but we can not condone lawbreaking.

Whiny Babies Grow Up Conservative?

I guess I'm just whining here, but...

Did you see this study?

Whiny children, claims a new study, tend to grow up rigid and traditional. Future liberals, on the other hand ...

Remember the whiny, insecure kid in nursery school, the one who always thought everyone was out to get him, and was always running to the teacher with complaints? Chances are he grew up to be a conservative.

At least, he did if he was one of 95 kids from the Berkeley area that social scientists have been tracking for the last 20 years. The confident, resilient, self-reliant kids mostly grew up to be liberals.

The study from the Journal of Research Into Personality isn't going to make the UC Berkeley professor who published it any friends on the right.

Similar conclusions a few years ago from another academic saw him excoriated on right-wing blogs, and even led to a Congressional investigation into his research funding.

But the new results are worth a look. In the 1960s Jack Block and his wife and fellow professor Jeanne Block (now deceased) began tracking more than 100 nursery school kids as part of a general study of personality. The kids' personalities were rated at the time by teachers and assistants who had known them for months. There's no reason to think political bias skewed the ratings — the investigators were not looking at political orientation back then. Even if they had been, it's unlikely that 3- and 4-year-olds would have had much idea about their political leanings.

A few decades later, Block followed up with more surveys, looking again at personality, and this time at politics, too. The whiny kids tended to grow up conservative, and turned into rigid young adults who hewed closely to traditional gender roles and were uncomfortable with ambiguity. The confident kids turned out liberal and were still hanging loose, turning into bright, non-conforming adults with wide interests. The girls were still outgoing, but the young men tended to turn a little introspective.

It got a fair amount of attention. Again, I may be whining, but take a look at the political causes/candidates this professor has backed in recent years.

h/t the corner

9/30/2003, $2,000, Dean, Howard
6/30/2003, $2,000, Kucinich, Dennis J
11/17/2004, $1,000, Council for a Livable World
3/2/2004, $500, America Coming Together
4/7/2004, $500, America Coming Together
4/23/2004, $500, Democracy for America
3/1/2004, $500, Obama, Barack
5/15/2004, $500, Moveon.org
1/28/2005, $250, Progressive Vote
7/12/2004, $250, Michaud, Mike
10/17/2003, $250, America Coming Together
1/12/2004, $250, America Coming Together
10/29/2004, $250, Boyda, Nancy E
4/28/2004, $250, Boyda, Nancy E
10/25/2004, $250, Ross, Dave
6/17/2004, $250, Farmer, Nancy
6/24/2004, $250, Castor, Betty
9/13/2004, $250, Romero, Richard M
9/14/2004, $250, Castor,Betty
10/26/2004, $250, Castor, Betty
11/1/2004, $250, Carson, Brad R
7/16/2004, $250, Babbitt, Paul
7/16/2004, $250, Wetterling,Patty
10/25/2004, $250, Jennings, Jon Paul
6/2/2004, $250, Salazar,John
10/23/2004, $250, Wetterling, Patty
10/12/2004, $250, Barrow,John
10/12/2004, $250, Higgins, Brian M
10/12/2004, $250, Schrader,Virginia Waters
10/12/2004, $250, Sullivan, James M
7/13/2004, $250,Murphy, Lois
7/16/2004, $250, Murphy, Lois
8/27/2004, $250,Moveon.org
10/12/2004, $250, Gallagher, Tom
10/7/2004, $250, Schwartz,Allyson
10/7/2004, $250, Keever, Patricia
10/13/2004, $250, Bean, MelissaLuburich
10/13/2004, $250, Driscoll, Joseph Edward
8/3/2004, $250,Tenenbaum, Inez
10/8/2004, $250, Tenenbaum, Inez
5/24/2004, $250,Connealy, Matt
4/29/2004, $200, Herseth, Stephanie
8/2/2004, $200, Boyda,Nancy E
10/5/2004, $200, Herseth, Stephanie
8/4/2004, $200, Democracy for America
8/3/2004, $200, Feingold, RussellD
8/21/2004, $200, Romero, Richard M
8/26/2004, $200,Feingold, Russell D
8/19/2004, $200, Babbitt, Paul
8/19/2004,$200, Murphy, Lois
5/31/2005, $500, Nader, Ralph
12/9/2004, $500, Nader, Ralph
5/14/2004, $250, Carnahan, Russ
2/27/2004,$2,000, Nader, Ralph
10/15/2004, $250, Mitakides, LouellaJane
7/31/2004, $200, Herseth, Stephanie

Bias? Nah.

Peace Activists: Rescuers to Blame for Kidnapping

Earlier today, Owen posted this story over at Boots and Sabers:

Multinational forces freed three Western hostages early Thursday in a military operation, ending a four-month hostage drama in which an American among the group was shot to death and dumped on a Baghdad street.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry said the captives were rescued in the joint U.S.-British operation in rural area northwest of Baghdad, between the towns of Mishahda, 20 miles north of Baghdad, and the western suburb of Abu Ghraib, 12 miles from downtown.

British officials in Baghdad said those freed were Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32; and Briton Norman Kember, 74. The men — members of a Chicago-based Christian peace activist group — were kidnapped on Nov. 26 along with their American colleague, Tom Fox, 54, whose body was found earlier this month.

He then wrote:

I hope that these peace activists have an appreciation for the American and British troops who risked their lives to save their butts.

Owen, my friend, you should have known better!

Our hearts are filled with joy today as we heard that Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember have been safely released in Baghdad. Christian Peacemaker Teams rejoices with their families and friends at the expectation of their return to their loved ones and community. Together we have endured uncertainty, hope, fear, grief and now joy during the four months since they were abducted in Baghdad.

We rejoice in the return of Harmeet Sooden. He has been willing to put his life on the line to promote justice in Iraq and Palestine as a young man newly committed to ctive peacemaking.

We rejoice in the return of Jim Loney. He has cared for the marginalized and oppressed since childhood, and his gentle, passionate spirit has been an inspiration to people near and far.

We rejoice in the return of Norman Kember. He is a faithful man, an elder and mentor to many in his 50 years of peacemaking, a man prepared to pay the cost.

We remember with tears Tom Fox, whose body was found in Baghdad on March 9, 2006, after three months of captivity with his fellow peacemakers. We had longed for the day when all four men would be released together. Our gladness today is ade bittersweet by the fact that Tom is not alive to join in the celebration. However, we are confident that his spirit is very much present in each reunion.

Harmeet, Jim and Norman and Tom were in Iraq to learn of the struggles facing the people in that country. They went, motivated by a passion for justice and peace to live out a nonviolent alternative in a nation wracked by armed conflict. They knew that their only protection was in the power of the love of God and of their Iraqi and international co-workers. We believe that the illegal occupation of Iraq by Multinational Forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq. The occupation must end.

Today, in the face of this joyful news, our faith compels us to love our enemies even when they have committed acts which caused great hardship to our friends and sorrow to their families. In the spirit of the prophetic nonviolence that motivated Jim, Norman, Harmeet and Tom to go to Iraq, we refuse to yield to a spirit of vengeance. We give thanks for the compassionate God who granted our friends courage and who sustained their spirits over the past months. We pray for strength and courage for ourselves so that, together, we can continue the nonviolent struggle for justice and peace.

Throughout these difficult months, we have been heartened by messages of concern for our four colleagues from all over the world. We have been especially moved by the gracious outpouring of support from Muslim brothers and sisters in the Middle East, Europe, and North America. That support continues to come to us day
after day. We pray that Christians throughout the world will, in the same spirit, call for justice and for respect for the human rights of the thousands of Iraqis who are being detained illegally by the U.S. and British forces occupying Iraq.

During these past months, we have tasted of the pain that has been the daily bread of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Why have our loved ones been taken? Where are they being held? Under what conditions? How are they? Will they be released? When?

With Tom’s death, we felt the grief of losing a beloved friend. Today, we rejoice in the release of our friends Harmeet, Jim and Norman. We continue to pray for a swift and joyful homecoming for the many Iraqis and internationals who long to be reunited with their families. We renew our commitment to work for an end to the war and the occupation of Iraq as a way to continue the witness of Tom Fox. We trust in God’s compassionate love to show us the way.

You read that right. These 'peace activists' were 'released' not 'rescued' by the 'illegal occupiers.' They express compassion for the enemy but not appreciation for their liberators.

Outrageous.

Send 'em back.

Alert Level Raised to HIGH

After last night's appearance on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, I am beginning to think Feingold is starting to believe his own hype.

Therefore we are raising the alert level to HIGH.

Please take the appropriate cautions.

Be wary the spread of fawningus press sycophanti.

If he's cool enough for Jon Stewart, he's cool enough for magazine covers now, baby.

Repeat, the alert level is now placed at:

HIGH

Very Early Spin and a Look at Prison Overcrowding

Between my real job and my guest hosting gig on the Early Spin, I realize blogging has been a bit scarce this week.

There's a lot more prep work to a radio show than you would imagine and it's cut into computer time...

In any event, I was able to talk about blogging, just in passing, this morning. I gave a shout out to a few fellow bloggers whose sites I regularly visit and from which I gleaned material this week. Sorry that I missed mentioning many of you.

Tomorrow's show is shaping up.

We'll be following on up the case of the two missing boys and the convenience store shooting in Milwaukee where eyewitnesses have eluded police.

And, at 7:05, I'll talk to State Senator Scott Fitzgerald about his concerns regarding over crowding.

Hope you get a chance to listen in.

Prison Overcrowding a Ticking Time Bomb
Doyle decision to bring back out-of-state inmates without space for them has put correctional officers at risk

[Madison, Wisc....] Last May, Governor Doyle announced his decision to return all out-of-state inmates to Wisconsin, despite rampant prison overcrowding. Senator Scott Fitzgerald (R - Juneau), co-chairman of the legislature's Joint Committee on Finance and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Corrections, criticized the move at the time and said it would make prisons more crowded and less safe. Recent events have shown this prediction to be true.

"Governor Doyle and the legislators who applauded his decision to add to the prison system's dangerous overcrowding need to look themselves in the mirror and ask if they're really doing what's best for Wisconsin," Fitzgerald said. "We're at a crisis point in our correctional system and if we don't do something soon, it's only going to get worse."

Yesterday, correctional officers at the Kettle Morraine Correctional Institute rallied to protest a series of violent incidents. In separate incidents over the last five weeks, one officer was punched in the face and had his jaw broken by an inmate; three inmates smashed their way through a