BLOGS

AUGUST 11.2009
What happened to the civil in civil discourse? I think what's occurring at the town hall meetings on health care is appalling. It's not that I agree with the many things in the health care reform packages - I don't. But I do agree the notion that we have a real problem with health care and we need to fix it. Shouting down members of Congress is not the way to get it done. To me it further degrades individuals and an institution that American's have grown to treat with disrespect. It's true that there have been bad apples in Congress who have brought some of this on their own. I think the media and the 24/7 cycle also have played a role. But come on people, where are your manners? These folks are elected by you and your neighbors to lead this country. If you are so passionate about an issue, or your disagreement with them, run for office. That's why our founding fathers created that little document called the constitution. In the meantime, it seems to me that we as a country could use a little more of the manners in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and a little less of the Jerry Springer show.

AUGUST 29.2009
Jim Doyle's recent decision not to run for Governor strikes me as a sign of things to come.  Jim's a really smart guy who loves public service.  At some point in time, watching the public's vitriolic reaction to politicians and the press' pummeling of them, I'm guessing he woke up in the middle of the night and said, "who needs this?".  It's a shame in that he did some great things for our state.

Now the question is, who runs? Besides Lt. Gov. Lawton the obvious people are Mayor Barrett and Congressman Kind on the Dem side.  My guess is that Kind and Barrett will not run against each other and that in all likelihood, one of the two of them will be the nominee.

AUGUST 17, 2011
It's a sad, sad day for America when we've reached such a low that a Republican candidate for President throws out the T word in talking about Berananke and the Feds potential response to the economy. Language counts and language such as this is extraordinarily dangerous not to mention harmful.