Neumann vs. Walker

So, what does everybody think about Mark Neumann and Scott Walker? Both seem to be good guys, both from the same part of the state, both conservative. Who do you prefer? And without being asswipe-ish, why? 

Dems, too. Which would you rather have your candidate run against? (Same non-asswipe-ish rules apply to you, too)

Courage

Dang it… I hate it when I end up linking to two lefties on one day, but this is too good to pass up.

UPDATE: According to a commenter, the picture is a fake.  Still… it’s a great image. 

I Wore Makeup Today

In a sure sign that all of the important people weren’t available, Folkbum and I taped a short segment for Mike Gousha’s Upfront.  Jay and I leg wrestle.  He got me the first time, but I won the next two rounds to take home the oversized championship belt.  We also managed to discuss politics, the budget, and the subtle art of pole dancing (that’s how Jay and I paid for college). 

Tune in! 

MJS and DHS Gang Up To Slam Walker

Mark Belling broke this story this afternoon.  He obtained a series of emails between state DHS employees and Steve Schultz, a reporter for the MJS.  In the emails, it is pretty clear that not only are DHS officials taking political considerations into account as they move to take over a Milwaukee County department, but they are also coordinating the effort with Steve Schultz to try to do it in a way to paint Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker in the worst light possible. 

Couple comments…

1) Steve Schultz has disgraced himself.

2) It’s very clear that the state’s actions have everything to do with politics - specifically the upcoming governor’s race - and not with serving the people of Wisconsin. 

Obama Comments on Skyrocketing Unemployment

Meh.

The president spoke enthusiastically of the White House pastry chef. “Whatever kind of pie you want, he will make it,” Obama said, adding ruefully that that was a problem for him and wife Michelle in regard to their weight.

New Offensive in Afghanistan

We pray for their safety and their success. 

U.S. Marines suffered their first casualties of a massive new military campaign Thursday as they engaged in sporadic gunbattles along 55 miles of Taliban-controlled heartland in southern Afghanistan.

One Marine was killed and several others were injured or wounded on the first full day of the assault, the largest military operation in Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban government in 2001.

Rick Perry

I’m not a huge fan of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, but I do think he has some good points in this interview with Instapundit’s Glenn Reynolds.

And he gets bonus points for being an Aggie.

Guess That Geographical Location—2 July 2009

Photo via Google Maps.

Congrats to gelt.

See the extended entry for details.

Read the rest

Necessary Roughness

No, this isn’t a post about Iran…

Necessary Roughness is on television at the moment.  I was an extra in the stands for this movie.  I was also an extra in another movie.  Can you guess what the other one was?

Card Check Comes to UW

Nice. 

Research assistants at UW System campuses would form unions by signing authorization cards rather than using secret ballots under a provision in the new state budget.

This was a change wanted by the Teaching Assistants’ Association, a UW-Madison graduate workers union, said Peter Rickman, president of the group.

“The notion of free and fair elections with secret ballots is a myth,” Rickman said.

Um, perhaps Rickman should go to Iran or Eastern Europe and tell them that secret ballots are a bad idea. 

You Stay Classy, New York Democrats

Monkey Pees on President of Zambia

Arizona To Allow Concealed Carry in Bars

Excellent!

The Arizona Senate has given final approval to a bill that would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry a gun into a business that serves alcohol.

The 19-8 vote completes legislative action on the bill and sends it to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer. She has not said whether she will sign it, but she has long been a supporter of gun rights.

Before the anti-gun nuts chime in… remember that we are not talking about people being allowed to drink while carrying a weapon.  We are talking about allowing a sober person to carry a weapon in an establishment that sells alcohol.  For example, one could go to dinner at the Texas Roadhouse with a weapon and have a nice steak with some iced tea. 

I would also point out that many states already have this and the dire predictions of blood streaming under the stools at the bars has not come to pass. 

Not So Much a Town Hall

Holy crap!  Helen Thomas schools Gibbs!

Helen Thomas is as leftist as you get and even she can’t stomach Gibbs’ BS. 

Hat tip Charlie Sykes. 

Lining Up for Taxpayer-Funded Benefits

Just remember… we were told that this would not cost anything more. 

If Dane County Clerk Bob Ohlsen’s hunch is correct, the first Monday in August is going to be a hectic day at his office.

That’s the day same-sex couples across the state, including an estimated 1,400 to 2,400 couples living in Dane County, will be able to take advantage of a historic piece of legislation signed Monday by Gov. Jim Doyle that for the first time recognizes domestic partnerships across the state. Along with the recognition come dozens of legal protections that previously were only granted to married couples, including the right to take family leave to care for a sick or dying partner, the ability to access a partner’s medical records and the right to inherit a partner’s property. In addition, Doyle approved granting health care benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees.

“My sense is we are going to be swamped,” Ohlsen says. “Even for those who already get benefits for their partner through their employer, there is a huge advantage to applying to the registry.”

Applying for the registry is the same as applying for a marriage license. Couples must provide proof of residence, certified copies of their birth certificates and their Social Security numbers. For those who have been previously married, a certified death certificate or divorce judgment is required. The fee is also the same as a marriage license, $115 per couple in Dane County.

To qualify for the new legal protections, two individuals must be at least 18 years old, members of the same sex, share a common residence, not be nearer of kin than second cousins and not be married or in another domestic partnership.

Jed and I would have fit those criteria once upon a time.