Paul Soglin: Waxing America

My Appearance on National Public Radio's Here and Now

Last week while attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Meeting I was asked to be a guest on National Public Radio's Here and Now. I was joined by Carmel, Indiana Mayor Jim Brainard and we talked about our ideas for a partnership between the federal government and municipalities. We discussed the importance of public investment in infrastructure, the digital divide, mass transit, education and other issues. Although he is a Republican Mayor and I am not, we agreed on quite a few issues. You can read the transcript or listen on line here:

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/01/23/mayors-brainard-soglin

Silencing a Progressive Voice

Madison’s diversity is one of its many positive attributes. Diversity in residents, neighborhoods, restaurants and businesses and many other areas have all contributed to the quality of life here.  Although we have perhaps been an anomaly, that diversity has, until recently, extended to talk radio. In an era where progressive talk is pretty rare, our city and area had the benefit of WTDY’s morning show host John ‘Sly’ Sylvester.  As you probably have heard, Sly and the rest of the staff at WTDY were dismissed last week.  Their job loss is our community’s loss.

 Madison radio needs local voices and local hosts.  Sly’s program on WTDY has provided a local forum for politicians and listeners for over 15 years.  No screening of callers to weed out those who disagreed, but a free flow of thoughts and ideas. I was a frequent guest on the program, as was State Representative Glenn Grothman.  There are very few issues on which State Representative Grothman and I agree but Sly treated each of us with respect and had a genuine interest in issues important to us. Local radio promotes and supports local businesses.  Sly had developed long-standing relationships with advertisers and contributed to their success. He continued his work off the air, helping to make this a better city.  He was involved in promoting Monona Terrace when many believed it would never happen.  He championed the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial and has been involved in many projects and causes, certainly some politically progressive, but not all.

There is a concerted effort underway to keep our progressive voice on the air.  It’s called Give Sly the Mic and I’m joining in.

 

Soglin: Why Walker's Bill Is Bad For Cities

Monday, Paul Soglin talked to Sly on WTDY about the fiscal devastation Governor Walker's "emergency" budget "repair" bill would create for Wisconsin's cities. Scroll down's Sly's page to find Paul's segment, or you can listen here.

FYI, there's a great new website, Solidarity Wisconsin, that is compiling blogs and news sources about all this. Well worth a click and then a bookmark.

BTW, if you haven't gotten to the Capitol yet, and you are within range of Madison, you need to experience it for yourself. The enormous number of union people, kids, college students, teachers,and uniformed law enforcement from hundreds of jurisdictions, all polite and friendly with each other, with free food and drinks everywhere you turn - it's the mellowest vibe I've ever seen at a demonstration.

Say hi to Paul when you see him there. (Photo by noblejoanie)

- Barry Orton

 

Ron Santo Dies; Baseball Fans Mourn and Shame On The Hall Of Fame

Ron Santo died yesterday after falling into a coma on Wednesday.  He recently suffered from bladder cancer along with the effects of his lifelong case of Type I diabetes. Waxing America has been arguing Santo's case for the Hall of Fame for years, along with that of Minnie Minoso.

Keith Olbermann is pissed:

It should go without saying that the true tragedy is the death of Ron Santo at the age of 70 after a brave and inspirational fight against diabetes and the amputations of both legs it necessitated.

But beyond the mourning of this day, is the shame of this day. The Cubs' great third baseman is not in the Hall of Fame, and symbolizes that all-too-large group of players ranging from 19th Century stars to Gil Hodges to Buck O'Neil to Dale Murphy who are, by any means, considerably better than a huge percentage of those already in Cooperstown, but who are still excluded due to the enduringly searing reality that the Hall has never gone more than two years without one of its groups of electors screwing something up.

Bleed Cubbie Blue proprietor Al Yelon reflects the thoughts of many of us:

...I say with no hesitation that I admired Ron Santo for his play when I was young, and then again for the way he faced life's adversities. The Yiddish word for this kind of person is "mensch." Ron Santo was, without a doubt, a mensch, a wonderful human being.

...There is absolutely no question that Ron Santo should have been inducted into the Hall of Fame a very long time ago. He is one of the five or six best third basemen in baseball history. Santo mentioned many times that he did not want to go into the Hall posthumously, and I hope the Hall voters now respect his wishes.

They ought to be ashamed, every one of them, for not giving this good man and great player this honor while he was still among us.

May Ron Santo's memory be for a blessing to his family, friends and many many fans. He was a mensch.

- Barry Orton

Some People Do Not Know How To Read

Recently, Waxing America editor Barry Orton wrote a post, Consider Voting In The Wisconsin Republican Primary. In it he said, "Here are three good reasons to vote in the Wisconsin Republican primary if there are no real important Democratic primary races in your area..." and he signed it clear as day, "Barry Orton."

Now comes the WTMJ of Milwaukee Walker Says Democrats Trying To "Hijack" Republican Primary.

In the story there is a statement with no quotations saying, "Some left leaning bloggers are encouraging their fellow democrats (sic) to cross over and vote in the republican (sic)primary for Mark Neumann. Among them is former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin."

Not true, not now, never was.

Belling on Censorship, Pornography, Love, and Romance

Mark Belling is attempting to become the most outrageous self-centered Wisconsin hypocrite. It's a touch competition, but Belling is succeeding.

This week it is A dual dose of double standards where he goes off the chart about the efforts of some of his friends to pull a book from the shelves of the West Bend Public Library. The book deals with among other things, gays. Yes, it  addresses homosexuality and the imagination of a young gay man who is beaten by thugs and his subsequent dreams or visions after he passes out.

Belling finds it pornographic.

 It all started when a pair of grandparents in the Bend found some gay porn in the children’s section of the library. The stuff was so raunchy I couldn’t even read from it on my radio program without jeopardizing WISN’s broadcast license...

The book, which Belling never identifies, is Baby Be-Bop, deemed appropriate for ages twelve and up, and is the story of the gay closeted fifteen year old.

 

Publishers Weekly :

Embroidering her prose with lushly romantic imagery, Block returns to the world of Weetzie Bat for this keenly felt story. A prequel of sorts to Weetzie Bat, the novel opens while Weetzie's best friend Dirk is still a child, lying on his mat at naptime. "Dirk had known it since he could remember" - known, that is, that he is gay. Tenderly raised by Grandma Fifi, famous for her pastries and her 1955 Pontiac convertible, Dirk struggles with love and fear: "He wanted to be strong and to love someone who was strong; he wanted to meet any gaze, to laugh under the brightest sunlight and never hide." After his first heartbreak, with his closest friend (who cannot accept Dirk's love nor his own for Dirk), Dirk battles more fiercely for identity; beaten up by a gang of punks, he slumps into semiconsciousness and is visited by his ancestors, each telling a haunting, lyrical tale of love, faith and self-acceptance. What might seem didactic from lesser writers becomes a gleaming gift from Block. Her extravagantly imaginative settings and finely honed perspectives remind the reader that there is magic everywhere. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc

 

Belling concludes

that the standard for censorship is majority rule

: "...This is what America is supposed to be all about – citizens petitioning their government to respect the public will..." I wonder if he would respect the will of a majority of Milwaukee residents if they voted him off the air?  

At that point he would start bellowing about the Constitution. For once he would be correct.

 

 

 

Belling: The Worst in the Doyle Budget and Ignorance of Capitalism

A few weeks ago, Milwaukee radio entertainer Mark Belling wrote a column in the Waukesha Freeman*  listing the twenty two worst picks in Governor Jim Doyle's budget.

The list is what you would expect.

Belling opposes making the state income tax more progressive.

He supports the continuation of expensive incarceration programs that drive up the cost of warehousing inmates and simultaneously increase the probably of more severe criminal recidivism upon release.

 Of course he opposes fair economic treatment for all Wisconsinites when it comes to employer benefits and retirement programs.

The list is more interesting for its implications rather than its numbered items.

Taken as a body of work, Belling's positions result in the worst case scenario in balancing efficiency and fairness. Belling drives up the cost of government and forces taxpayers to  pay more and get less of their tax dollars.

That is because Belling does not understand a simple fundamental principle of capitalism. To become productive, gain efficiency and increase return, one needs to make an intelligent investment in both infrastructure and human capacity.

*I cannot figure out how to access the specific article online; if you know, please tell me.

Milwaukee Talk Radio - Talking To Themselves

The impact of right wing Milwaukee talk radio is diminishing. In 2007, when I first met with statewide business, political, and academic leaders I was not prepared for their reaction to Mark Belling, Charlie Sykes and the other conservative entertainers.

These community leaders made two points.

First, that the influence of conservative talk radio outside of the Milwaukee market was limited; moderate Republicans in the legislature outside of Milwaukee paid little attention to these talking heads.

Secondly, that within the metropolitan Milwaukee area moderates were not on the same page as Belling or Sykes when it came to public education, taxation policy, or any of a myriad of critical issues.

Just as the national talk radio pundits marginalized themselves, so have Milwaukee's drive time extremists. The only audience they influence is the one that agrees with them. They have little opportunity for growth, and it is clear that when the undecided public is provided an alternative viewpoint Belling and Sykes are ineffectual.

They may have Scott Walker's back, but they will never advance his extreme measures beyond his limited Milwaukee base, which is rapidly eroding.

Wisconsin Bankers Association Need Old Ideas

Last month the Wisconsin Bankers Association held their annual meeting and as reported by the Milwaukee Business Journal, Republicans dominate bankers' convention.

The three featured speakers were Milwaukee County executive and Republican candidate for governor, Scott Walker, Representative Paul Ryan, and failing radio talk show entertainer Mark Belling.

None of the three have a historical understanding or comprehension of what made America great. This country forged ahead since the Civil War on a partnership of public and private investment.

From the land grants for the railroads and the harbors to the space race and the interstate highway system the United States recognized the importance of public investment in infrastructure as the principal inspiration for private investment.

No banker ever approved a loan for the construction of a Cracker Barrel, a clinic, or a factory in a field without roads, water, and a workforce, an educated workforce.

Now Belling advises the state's financial leaders to abandon Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) because of his personal grudge with some of the key health care providers, particularly Aurora.

Wisconsin Bankers can do better. Wisconsin Bankers know better.

Morrissey No Longer on Radio, But His Snarky Voice Lives On New Blog

Longtime Waxing America friend Tim Morrissey isn't on Madison radio any more: our loss. His caustic personal view of local, state and national figures and events was a feature of his superior news coverage for more than 20 years here. 

A couple of months ago, Doug Moe reported in the Wisconsin State Journal that after being involved in one of the many recent purges of local media professionals, Morrissey had landed a sweet gig with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation to build a resource website for Wisconsin broadcast news rookies. A useful and needed project for the green J-school grad at a live microphone trying to pronounce Oconomowoc and Minoqua.

The rest of us can now get access to Tim Morrissey's fertile and caustic mind at his new blog, The Ways Things R.  The current term is "snarky," but Tim accurately describes himself as "cranky, out-of-sorts, and generally pissed off about a lot of stuff."  Whether it's his take on the bonuses for UW-Madison coaches or on the need for an ordinance prohibiting "dooring" of bicyclists, we get plenty of Morrissey attitude.  Well-written and worth a click.

- Barry Orton