Archive for June, 2009
Mayoral Salaries
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
I was in Tipton, Iowa over the weekend visiting In-Laws.
Being the local government expert in family, I was asked how much I thought Mayor Kepford made a year. Knowing who was doing the asking I replied, “I don’t know, but it isn’t enough.”
The issue arose because of some planned street work that was about to start in front of their house. Of course, nothing was being done to their satisfaction and it was all the stupid, overpaid Mayor’s fault.
I still don’t know how much Mayor Kepford makes. But, I will stand by my answer.
That kind of abuse goes with the job but nobody should have to take the abuse for peanuts.
Enemies are Everywhere
Friday, June 26th, 2009
Political enemies. They are everywhere. When you are deeply involved in politics you develop political enemies. Some enemies you like personally even though you disagree with them politically. Some people even marry them.
Then there are the enemies that you really don’t like. Just the sight of them gets the competitive juices flowing.
In this regard politics is much like sports. When you are heavily invested in the fortunes of a sports team there are rivals and then there are RIVALS.
When someone like Senator Arlen Spector defected from the Republicans to the Democrats that was nothing. Did you lose any sleep over it or rejoice with glee? I didn’t think so. Life went on undisturbed.
But, the possiblity of Brett Favre becoming a Viking?
Oh what a tangled web we weave …
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
OK, so he wasn’t hiking the Appalachian Trail.
And, he wasn’t writing.
And, he didn’t need to be alone to clear his head.
It turns out to be just another “Scumbag and Tramp” story.
Oh well … Next.
Where would you go to disappear?
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
You know the story.
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford “disappeared”.
He went hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Missing four days. His wife says she didn’t know where he was. (Did she or didn’t she?)
It got me thinking. If I was to “disappear” for a few days where would I want to go? You can bet it wouldn’t be hiking in the wilderness! It would be someplace I could walk on concrete.
I would like to go to Milwaukee for the Brewers/Twins series, but that wouldn’t be disappearing because I would run into someone I know. So that would be out.
Disappear? That is a problem. While certainly not as well known as a Governor I can run into people I know anywhere I go in the state. Except … Maybe …
How about Hurley?
Where would you go to disappear?
Failing your way to political success
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.” - Woody Allen
All politicians fail. Every one of them.
The successful ones learn from their failures and use that knowledge to win the next one.
They innovate.
Here’s hoping your city has innovative officials.
Right Woody?
Shameless Plugs
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
It is time to plug a couple of websites.
First we have PeopleDirect.Org.
People Direct is an “On-line political community for disgusted Democrats, repulsed Republicans & others favoring widespread political reform in the United States!” They are not talking Iran type of political reform, they are talking about genuine reform through the ballot box.
The other plug is for VoidNow.Org.
Vote Out Incumbents Democracy (Void) wishes to see all incumbents defeated. Period. Throw out the batch of them. You know the definition of insanity… Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Ain’t going to happen.
I talk to many people who are disgusted with both parties and want to throw them both out.
But, like minded people tend to gather together don’t they?
Why Run for City Council?
Friday, June 19th, 2009
I love other peoples stories about their involvement with local politics. I recently read a great one. It was posted on The Judge Report Blog site. It is the story of one man’s decision to run for City Council in Amersterdam, NY.
If you are interested you can read it here.
If not, see you later.
Where will the next Chuckles come from?
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
We interrupt this blog for important non political news.
While this news wasn’t posted in the LaCrosse Tribune obituary section, it is certainly a horrible death.
After 29 years, Clown Camp to bow out after this year.
Paint on a sad face for the Clown Camp.
The long-time annual event that attracted thousands of clowns to La Crosse since it started 29 years ago will cease after the 2009 session at Viterbo University.
Participants say Clown Camp’s closing is no laughing matter.
“This has become a family reunion,” Stephanie “Bubbles” Payne, of northeastern Nevada, said as the camp opened Wednesday. “Why we have fun doing what we do — these people understand what we do.”
Founder and director Richard “Junior” Snowberg said he’s shutting down the La Crosse camp to have more time for other activities. He will offer “more manageable” programs in Singapore in 2010 and Japan in 2011.
“I actually retired nine years ago from the university (of Wisconsin-La Crosse),” Snowberg said. “The program is encompassing and time consuming … I’m retiring, and no one else took it over.”
The first camp, then at UW-L, drew about 35 people in 1981 and was intended to be a one-time affair, Snowberg said. This year’s event has 191 staff members and participants from more than 30 states and several foreign countries, he said.
The camp has remained focused on education during its nearly three decades, Snowberg said. Attending clowns receive a 200-page notebook and take classes that teach them the finer points of their craft.
Payne, 36, learned the business of clowning — to make balloon animals, take a pie in the face, perfectly spit water — during her nine years at Clown Camp.
“I am here because I take my clowning very seriously,” she said.
Payne is a professional clown who works at birthday parties, family reunions and company picnics. She has added school visits and library programs to her repertoire, thanks to skills learned at Clown Camp.
While she can study clowning elsewhere, Payne said it won’t be taught as well.
“There will never be another experience like this,” she said. “There are other camps and other things to do as a clown, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
To honor the closing let me just say …
“A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants.”
A Laughable Idea
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
In these troubled money times why do things like this happen ….?
An $87,000 Wisconsin Department of Health Services grant will be used to help create a plan to combat binge drinking among 18 to 25 year olds in La Crosse County.
The five-month planning grant was awarded to the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium, in partnership with La Crosse County Departments of Health and Human Services and Coulee Council on Addictions. The partners will work with the Changing the Culture of Risky Drinking Behavior Community Coalition and a team of volunteers to develop the plan for October.
La Crosse was among four counties to receive funding. It is the third-highest ranked county in Wisconsin for binge drinking among ages 18 to 25, at 62 percent.
So, this was one of four grants. We can probably say these grants to CREATE PLANS easily exceeded $300,000. Plans to combat binge drinking.
What odds do you put on that coalition of partners creating a successful plan to combat binge drinking in LaCrosse County?
Jeez, what a waste.
Marketing the water you drink
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
The whole plastic water bottle thing has always fascinated me. It has fascinated me because I could never see paying outrageous prices when we have some of the finest water in the U.S.A. in my home town. It has placed as high as Bronze in the Berkely Springs International Water Tasting Festival. Yet, the plastic bottles fly off the shelf here also.
The New York Times reports thru Governing.Com of this idea to promote tap water in Venice, Italy.
But here in Venice, officials took a leaf from the advertising playbook that has helped make bottled water a multibillion-dollar global industry. They invented a lofty brand name for Venice’s tap water — Acqua Veritas — created a sleek logo and emblazoned it on stylish carafes that were distributed free to households.
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