politics
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Jan Swoboda, Political Navigator For Former State Representative Lary Swoboda, Dies At 82
Upon hearing the news that Janice Swoboda, 82, of Luxemburg, had died, one of the first thoughts that came to mind was that a very unique couple was together again. She was married to former State Representative Lary Swoboda. who served for 24 years in Madison. He died at the age of 73 in 2012.… Continue reading
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Ridglan Farms Protest: Compassion For Animals vs. Laws That Govern Society
I read and watched news coverage of animal rights activists attempting to break into Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and research facility in Blue Mounds, this weekend. They were repelled by a heavy law enforcement presence from Dane County. My heart is with the dogs, my sense that laws and rules need to be abided… Continue reading
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Erika Kirk, Kash Patel, Surely Understand The First Amendment, Right?
A recent skit by comedian and influencer Drew Desbordes, aka Druski, made fun of conservative women. If you do not know that, join the club. Druski’s viral comedy video garnered over 180 million views on X, where he dressed as Erika Kirk, wearing a blonde wig, white outfit, and heavy makeup. When Donald Trump called attention… Continue reading
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Letter From Home: “Farewell, Ted Kennedy” Reprint From 8/30/09
It has been a week of memories, melancholy, and musings about the past. It was one of those weeks when I needed to seek out time alone to reflect on the news and images flooding the airwaves in the aftermath of Senator Ted Kennedy’s death. The absolute necessity of solitude—on long walks or while sitting… Continue reading
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Trump Needs A New Title: King Of Blarney And Bull
Trump made a most dreadful series of comments in the past few days regarding Pope Leo. It has been most embarrassing for our country. Clearly, Trump believes he is even ‘above the Pope’ when it comes to theological reasoning. As such, we need to ask if he feels hemmed in by the mere title of… Continue reading
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Trump’s Jan. 6th Pardons Became Permission Slips For Child Molestation, Murder Plots, Etc.
The news of more pardons for criminals who tried to undermine a national election on January 6, 2021, does not come as a surprise. Really, does anything surprise us at this point when it comes to the absurdity of the Trump Administration? Or the Republican lie about law and order? Balanced budgets? Family values? (Does… Continue reading
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Those Who Sided With Viktor Orban Will Be Damned, Authoritarianism Is A Loser
I spent some time this afternoon upstairs looking for a column in a back issue of Foreign Affairs. I knew it contained the essence of what I wanted to stress in this column. That followed the most welcome news that Peter Magyar’s center-right Tisza party was projected to win Hungary’s parliamentary election, bringing an end… Continue reading
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Senator Ron Johnson Makes Us Stop And Think
The Wisconsin State Journal wrote this weekend in an editorial that, “When (Wisconsin Senator Ron) Johnson, a fan of conspiracy theories, is the voice of reason, you know things are bad. Some found that sentence all too true, given the absurdity that has been unleashed by Donald Trump’s Iran war; others surely laughed. I have… Continue reading
Caffeinated Politics 