The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign provides a valuabl service in Wisconsin Politics. Unfortunately for the WDC it is not the one the think it is. They believe they are exposing the evils of fundraising. In fact the Editor is reliably informed that the are the biggest single tool for fundraising in the state. Check out this list of donors for example.

From PoliticsOnline.com:

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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SCIENCE CONFIRMS: POLITICIANS LIE
"Politicians need to be more honest about lying."
- After intensive research, scientists have concluded that politicians lie.
In a study described in Britain's Observer newspaper, Glen Newey, a political scientist at Britain's University of Strathclyde, concluded that lying is an important part of politics in the modern democracy.

This from the Capitol Times: BADGER POLL: Feingold no shoo-in for 3rd term

Interestingly the article states:

" On the question of whether Feingold should be re-elected - or whether voters prefer an unspecified "someone else" - 41 percent picked Feingold, compared to 34 percent who chose someone else.

Here's what it doesn't say; elected officials with a 41% re-elect number LOSE.

Here's what it also doesn't say; the Badger Poll sucks, no one in politics trusts or believes it, and the only reason it makes the paper is that the newspaper commisioned and paid for this sucky poll.

Politics is TOO good for something: Antispam bill gains steam in House

--more from our friends at msnbc

The politics of SPAM.

--from msnbc

An interesting article on how game theory influences international terrorism strategy from the Sydney Morning Herald:How to bomb friends and alienate us all - smh.com.au


Al-Qaeda's apparent new focus on soft, even non-Western, targets could be its death knell, writes Gerard Henderson.

Writing in last Friday's Wall Street Journal, Sharon Begley drew attention to work being done by the US academics, Walter Enders and Todd Sandler, in applying game theory to a study of terrorism and anti-terrorism. The theory was invented by the mathematician John Nash and popularised by Russell Crowe, who played Nash in the film A Beautiful Mind. Enders and Sandler are interested in the likely outcome when two rational agents - in this case, the terrorist and the anti-terrorist - make choices as to action.

The evidence suggests that the decision by US authorities to clamp down on terrorism (following the September 11 attacks) has led to a situation where terrorists have decided to choose softer, non-American, targets. Both decisions are rational.

From the weblog Eject! Eject! Eject! comes helpful information on magic and misdirection. It would be good to keep this lesson in mind when observing politics as well.

Now, ask any professional magician how they pull off their illusions and every last one will tell you it�s all about misdirection. Sadly, those boring, insensitive, dead-white-male laws of physics don�t allow for quarters to disappear into thin air. So to make someone believe that precisely this has happened, we need to physically make that coin go someplace where it is not expected. And the way to do that is to make everyone look somewhere else for a moment.

Humans have retained several reflexes, and for good reason too � they keep us alive. All of today�s animals are reflexively attracted to fast motion in their field of vision. There were undoubtedly many animals that did not have this brain wiring, and these extinct animals are known by the scientific name, breakfast. If you�re a two-ounce tree shrew or a one-ton wildebeest, something moves fast in the bushes it would behoove you to give it your undivided attention.

This is hard-wired, and there�s not a damn thing we can do about it. So watch a magician carefully next time he makes a coin disappear. You�ll see one hand move quickly � and that is the hand you will watch. Coin�s in the other hand.

Misdirection

Interesting bit of commentary on a web log apparently written by a baby harp seal: �As soon as someone starts talking about the Nazis, you know they�ve run out of things to say.�

An interesting intersection between Wisconsin politics and Hollywood from Salon.com.:

salon.com | Sept. 14, 2000

"I was giving a phone interview for a fellowship to the American Film Institute in Hollywood when the interviewer asked, "Do you support Jim Doyle for governor of Wisconsin?" I replied that I wasn't aware that our current attorney general of Wisconsin was running. I also told her I was a supporter of our current governor, Tommy Thompson. Silence on the other end. I flew to Hollywood for an interview a few days later. Again my political views came up in the conversation. Needless to say, I was placed as an alternate for fall of 2000 admission. Not only can you not come out of the closet in Hollywood as a Republican, they will close the door before you can come in. Intolerance? You bet. It is the Democrats in Hollywood looking in the mirror. "

-- Frank J. Romano

FROM ROLL CALL

Members Dining on Politics

By Brody Mullins
Roll Call Staff


May 19, 2003

Though the Capitol is considered a campaign-free zone, Federal Election Commission records indicate that some House lawmakers are using the Members� Dining Room for campaign-related meetings.

In campaign reports filed with the FEC for the 2001-02 election cycle, nearly a dozen Members disclosed that they held meetings in the exclusive dining room to discuss �political,� �campaign� and even �fundraising� matters.

The meetings, which were paid for by the Members� own re-election campaigns, do not appear to violate campaign finance law, which bars Members from raising money in the Capitol.

But the fact that the Members disclosed the political meals on their own fundraising reports shows that at least some lawmakers have no fear of infringing on the spirit of House ethics guidelines.

According to the FEC data compiled by a search on PoliticalMoneyLine.com, Members held more than 150 meetings in the Members� Dining Room to talk about campaign activity or fundraising.

Since then-Vice President Al Gore was chastised for making fundraising calls from his office in the late 1990s, Members of Congress have �made an excellent effort to split their official duty and campaign activity,� said Kent Cooper of PoliticalMoneyLine.com. �But in this situation some Members have reported using a government building for campaign activity.�

House ethics rules on the topic are murky at best. According to guidelines published by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Members are prohibited from using House rooms and offices �for events that are campaign or political in nature,� such as a campaign strategy meeting or fundraiser.

But the rules are loosely enforced. �The way this stuff is written, as long as you don�t receive or make a solicitation, it is OK,� said Meredith McGehee, a former official at Common Cause. �Can you reward donors? Yes. Could you talk strategy? I think that is a little closer to the line, but I don�t know that it constitutes a clear violation.�

Sounds like DC has the same issues that Wisconsin does regarding politics in the Capitol. I am shocked. Shocked! to find politics being practiced in the Capitol.

From Poliglut.org :: Political news and commentaryWill President Bush be on the 2004 Illinois Ballot?

Bush Files Papers for Re-Election Bid

'Missing' Democrats Found in Oklahoma (washingtonpost.com)

Thank God!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make famous."

--David Broder, Washington Post 5/14/03

Democrats Flee Texas!(washingtonpost.com)

AUSTIN, May 12 -- Moving with exceptional stealth and tactical coordination, more than 50 Democratic state lawmakers in Texas packed their bags and quietly slipped out of the state under cover of darkness late Sunday and early today.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry immediately dispatched police to track down the missing legislators, arrest them and bring them back to do the state's business -- even asking neighboring New Mexico if the Texas Rangers were empowered to make arrests there. (New Mexico's attorney general -- a Democrat -- said no.) But all signs were that the legislators were on the lam -- some, perhaps, fleeing to Mexico -- putting them beyond the reach of Lone Star justice and of GOP ambitions.

Whee Haw! Too bad Wisconsin doesn't practice politics with the same wild eyed wackiness as our friends in Texas.

JS Online: Pawlinski announces resignation: Milwaukee alderman indicted in March on federal corruption charges

NEWS YOU CAN USE:
CBS News | Are 'Mini-Nukes' The New Big Thing?

It turns out that cookies are EVIL!!!!!!

Luckily the trial lawyers are here to help! Having saved America from tobacco they will now save us from fatty foods. Thank you Mr. Trial Lawyer! Lawsuit seeks to ban sale of Oreos to children in California.

Remember: When Oreos are outlawed only outlaws will have Oreos.

If you were ever concerned with free speech and the right to protest peacefully look at this: U.S. News: Taking it off the streets(5/12/03)

From our 'Let's Make Wisconsin Politically Relevant' File: Legislature Passes Bill to Move Up Presidential Primary

From Charlie Sykes this: GAFFE ALERT


"In our ongoing effort to determine whether or not a liberal can ever commit a gaffe, consider this.

Today, during discussion in open caucus of Senate Joint Resolution 24, which commends the families and friends of those soldiers serving on active duty in the Middle East and praying for the prompt and safe return of their loved ones, State Representative Frank Boyle (D-Superior) said: "This [SJR 24] is a stupid, memorializing piece of nothing bullshit; totally unequivocal bullshit."
Even for an inveterate lefty blowhard like Boyle, this was more than a little over the top. But let's see:

Question (1): Will this be reported anywhere?
Question (2): Will it be the subject of any editorial comment?
Question (3): Will fellow Democrats criticize him?"

---Charlie Sykes

Man announces second attempt at political hari kari: Rothbauer to challenge Dave Obey again

Last Time:
"Bloomer native only had about $20,000 to spend on his entire campaign. By contrast, Obey raised nearly $900,000"

Now we are seeing the beginning of Presidential parody sites:Gov. Howard Dean for President: a Satire More to come.

"Compelling Theater" is the Washington Post review of the Democratic Warm-Up Debate

The WisconsinDemocracy Campaign put out a report entitled Graft Tax .

Interestingly, if you read the report, it turns out that ALL public spending is motivated by corruption. Who knew?

[As a side note the Editor points out that the WDC is percieved as a Democratic Party front group. It was embarrassed by its own partisanship for some reason. Tax exempt status, anyone?]

Opposition Research is one of the dark arts of politics. One of the best sources is available in our wonderful state is here: Wisconsin Circuit Court Access

Use it to find every legal proceeding that your opponent Senator Balderdash has been named in. What fun!

NEWS FLASH!
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"I Own John Gard" Says Obnoxious Man In Bar.

The Editor has just learned that Rep. John Gard, the Speaker of the Assembly has as his most intimate political advisor and kitchen cabinet guru none other than Eric J. Petersen. Those privileged enough to have met Mr. Petersen know that he is the smartest man in any room, and a brilliant political operator, perhaps the most brilliant ever to deign to inhabit the state of Wisconsin. Just ask him.

This page notes that Mr. Petersen has never run or held a significant position in any campaign organization and essentially bought his present position as big-wig Madison lobbyist. Apparently experience is not needed when you are truly a brilliant political mind.

Wow!

Quote of the Year Nominee:

"They're not even [within] 100 miles [of Baghdad]. They are not in any
place. They hold no place in Iraq. This is an illusion ... they are
trying to sell to the others an illusion."

--Muhammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, Iraqi Information Minister
(presently on extended administrative leave)

Sometimes it is helpful to review the basics: How to Pass a Law This is of course the real-deal not the unrealistic pap they put in the blue book.

The only surprising thing to the Editor about McCAIN FEINGOLD LAW DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL is the timing. It went down pretty fast. The ink isn't even dry on the thing yet.