Suppressing the student vote? New residency rules could affect Wisconsin’s recall election Judith Davidoff on Wednesday 05/16/2012 1:10 pm The voter ID law passed last spring by the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature was widely criticized for requiring that voters show a driver's license or other form of photo identification at the polls. These provisions are now under two court injunctions by judges who found that the photo ID requirements likely discriminate against minorities, the poor and the elderly. Meanwhile, it is the bill's new residency requirements, largely lost in the controversy over photo ID, that are much more likely to keep students away from the polls. >More
Citizen Dave: Ron & Katie and Scott & Carol Dave Cieslewicz on Wednesday 05/16/2012 11:27 am Here's some news. Politics doesn't have to be divisive. Last night, I was invited to a meeting of Reach Out Wisconsin, a loosely formed group of Wisconsinites of various political stripes who want to prove that you can disagree without being disagreeable. >More
Wilmington on DVD: Haywire, The Mel Brooks Collection, Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie Mike Wilmington on Wednesday 05/16/2012 10:00 am Director Steven Soderbergh is a Jack-of-all-trades who, in his new movie Haywire, also does his own cinematography and editing -- and does them all, as we know, very well. Gina Carano is a Jill-of-one-trade, a mixed martial arts champion here branching out into acting and movie superstardom. >More
Fringe Foods: Calliope Ice Cream offers innovative frozen flavors to Madison Kyle Nabilcy on Tuesday 05/15/2012 3:16 pm In architecture or medicine, industry or food, innovation is so often the child of happy circumstance. Take, for example, the smoked apple pie ice cream recently available at the Weary Traveler. "I sauteed a bunch of apples, and I didn't really know what to do with them, and Joey [Dunscombe, chef at Weary Traveler] was smoking bacon," recalls Jason Borgmann, proprietor of Calliope Ice Cream. Looking at the smoker, he asked Dunscombe, "How about we put those in there?" >More
Citizen Dave: The costs of college Dave Cieslewicz on Tuesday 05/15/2012 12:51 pm Why do we view a K-12 education as so important that we require it and offer it free of charge, but in an increasingly competitive world, we are making it harder to go beyond high school? When I came here to go to school at UW-Madison in 1979, my tuition was eight hundred and some dollars. >More
Win tickets to Joe Pug, Pink Lightning, Alejandro Escovedo, Kurt Vile & The Violators, more! on Tuesday 05/15/2012 12:00 pm The Isthmus Guest List is back with another round of free tickets to amazing concerts, shows and more fun events around Madison. This week's contests include tickets to: Joe Pug at the Frequency; Pink Lightning, Alejandro Escovedo, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Reptile Palace Orchestra, Jimmy Murn + The HeyMakers, a screening of Better Than Something: Jay Reatard, Sleeping in the Aviary, Shakey, "Euphony: The Pale Noir Experience," Chez Bouche, PROG, Katie Powderly, Houses in Motion, and Witch Mountain at the High Noon; Ben Sollee at the Majestic; and more! >More
A Book A Week: The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman Becky Holmes on Monday 05/14/2012 6:00 pm Another name for Alice Hoffman's The Dovekeepers could be "The Mists of Avalon for Jews," with Shira, the Witch of Moab, standing in for Morgaine, and Eleazar ben Ya’ir as Uther Pendragon. >More
The Week: May 14-17, 2012 on Monday 05/14/2012 1:00 pm Madison puts pedals in motion with Bike to Work Week as it eases into a new season, each night set to a soundtrack of live music that includes Pearl & the Beard, k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang, Sarah Jarosz, Slash with Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, Daniel and the Lion with Bello, Joe Pug, Neon Hitch, Keefe Klug, Lou and Peter Berryman, and Amy Ray. >More
Citizen Dave: Win one for the gaffer Dave Cieslewicz on Monday 05/14/2012 12:29 pm It seems to be in the nature of Barack Obama to see all the nuances. He has a mind that seeks out the views of the other side, and he is constitutionally inclined toward compromise. These are admirable qualities in a human being. But sometimes you want a guy like Joe Biden. The Vice President has had a long career in politics marked by bluntness and blunders. He's the gaffer-in-chief. >More
Early music group Eliza's Toyes turns to pioneers of the German Baroque John W. Barker on Sunday 05/13/2012 8:37 am As we speak of The Three B's (Bach, Beethoven, Brahms), so too we hear of The Three S's -- or "The Three Sch's," which is the name of the latest program by the enterprising Madison early-music vocal group Eliza's Toyes. It was performed at Gates of Heaven Saturday night. >More
Madison Symphony Orchestra concludes its season with a Gershwin feast John W. Barker on Saturday 05/12/2012 8:16 am The proclamation of George Gershwin as "America's greatest composer" in the promotional material may or may not in itself attract Madison Symphony Orchestra patrons, but an all-Gershwin program certainly does. The house was virtually full for the Friday evening performance in Overture Hall, and the audience was exuberantly enthusiastic. >More
Beer Here: Common Thread for Madison Craft Beer Week Robin Shepard on Friday 05/11/2012 2:00 pm, (2) Comments For one week -- okay, for those counting, 10 days -- Madison Craft Beer Week has allowed us to put aside our divisions and focus attention on a common thread of interest -- beer! A brew by that very name, Common Thread, has become the toast of local brewpubs, tasting rooms and tap houses around Madison. >More
Wisconsin Union Theater announces 2012-2013 season Kenneth Burns on Friday 05/11/2012 12:51 pm Wisconsin Union Theater, the great performing arts series hosted by the UW-Madison, has announced the lineup for its 2012-2013. One thing hasn't changed. The live schedule is a typically beguiling mix of jazz, classical, world music and theater. >More
Barrett already fundraising on Walker's 'divide and conquer' comments caught on video Judith Davidoff on Friday 05/11/2012 Tom Barrett is already raising money off of potentially explosive video footage reported late Thursday by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, in which a then newly elected Gov. Scott Walker tells his largest donor that he intends to pursue a “divide and conquer” strategy as the first step in diffusing union power. >More
The Week[end]: May 11-13, 2012 on Friday 05/11/2012 6:00 am Spring in Madison serves up one more glorious weekend with the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Breakin' the Law breakdancing festival, the Wisconsin Bat Festival, and the Curtain-Down Party for the Wisconsin Union Theatre, along with a wealth of live theater and music around the city. >More
Battleground, Episode 13: Did You Win? Linda Falkenstein on Thursday 05/10/2012 4:23 pm Campaign manager Tak Davis steals the show in this finale episode. Davis shows both his most human side, the craven opportunistic side that means he'll never be a family man, and his most flawed side, in which he'll never be a really good campaign manager, either. >More
Citizen Dave: Don't stop texting at council meetings Dave Cieslewicz on Thursday 05/10/2012 2:39 pm, (1) Comment The State Journal has started an interesting discussion about the use of text messaging and emails between alders, staff and lobbyists during council meetings. In the interests of open government, here's what I think should be done about it: nothing. >More
At Mickey's Tavern, SST Party revives Minutemen, Hüsker Dü and more What makes a man start cover bands? Scott Gordon on Thursday 05/10/2012 10:10 am Madison's roster of obsessively specific cover bands gets a a new addition Friday, May 11, at Mickey's Tavern, when Stephen Burke, Tim Sullivan and Michael Brenneis debut their project SSTParty. >More
Citizen Dave: Tom Barrett can do this Dave Cieslewicz on Wednesday 05/09/2012 6:22 pm, (2) Comments Tom Barrett was on fire last night. Through virtually all of his political career, Barrett has suffered the bad rap of being a nice guy without sufficient "fire in the belly." The guy won tough races for State Assembly, State Senate, Congress, Milwaukee Mayor, and came close in two grueling previous campaigns for governor. Nobody achieves all that without copious amounts of energy and drive. >More
Wisconsin Democrats have work to do, as primary turnout looks good for Gov. Walker Joe Tarr and Jason Joyce on Wednesday 05/09/2012 3:08 pm, (4) Comments Although Kathleen Falk was trounced in the primary election for governor on Tuesday, the mood at her party at the Edgewater Hotel was surprisingly cheerful. Falk entered the room to hearty cheers and at the podium did her best to rally the troops in support of her opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. >More
Mahlon Mitchell's recall run for lieutenant governor will also be a referendum on Walker Katherine Krueger on Wednesday 05/09/2012 12:55 pm Union leader Mahlon Mitchell logged his first victory in the effort to recall Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, a race that may well hinge more on how voters feel about Gov. Scott Walker than anything else. Mitchell, a Madison firefighter and president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, carried the Democratic primary Tuesday with 50% of the vote, according to unofficial results. >More
Wilmington on DVD: Godzilla, The Innkeepers, Joyful Noise, New Year's Eve Mike Wilmington on Wednesday 05/09/2012 10:00 am Ah, Godzilla! One of the biggest hits in the history of Japanese cinemas, and certainly one of the most fecund of all Japanese movies and movie franchises, Godzilla was the brainchild of several highly gifted people who all hit their career peaks while bringing this beast to life. >More
Walker's millions will have little effect on Barrett in the recall election Dave Cieslewicz on Tuesday 05/08/2012 11:22 pm, (2) Comments As it turned out, the primary itself was no problem at all. The candidates did not attack each other and, in fact, the exercise gave Tom Barrett a higher profile and a chance to test some arguments. It also kept Walker's attack machine at bay. Though he did figure out that Barrett would be the nominee and did run some attack ads against him, it's nothing compared to what might have happened if there had been a clear Democratic nominee from the start. >More
Live-blogging the 2012 Wisconsin recall primary election Isthmus Staff on Tuesday 05/08/2012 Voters across Wisconsin will go to the polls today to cast ballots in the primaries of six recall elections, for governor, lieutenant governor, and four state senate seats. The principal race is in the Democratic primary for governor, in which Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Dane County Exec. Kathleen Falk, Sec. of State Doug La Follette, and state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout will vie for the opportunity to face Gov. Scott Walker in the general election. >More
Why are fake candidates' names first on Wisconsin recall primary ballots? Kristian Knutsen on Tuesday 05/08/2012 1:05 pm, (1) Comment Who is Gladys Huber? She appears at the top of the ballot in the Democratic primary for governor in today's recall election, above Kathleen Vinehout, Doug La Follette, Kathleen Falk, and Tom Barrett. Unlike these four candidates, though, she is a Republican, running as a fake candidate along with five others in the races for lieutenant governor and four state Senate seats. >More
Win tickets to Wookiefoot, Madtown Get Down, Daniel and the Lion, Henhouse Prowlers, more! on Tuesday 05/08/2012 12:00 pm The Isthmus Guest List is back with another round of free tickets to amazing concerts, shows and more fun events around Madison. This week's contests include tickets to: Wookiefoot, the Madtown Get Down, and Ben Sollee at the Majestic; Bello, Henhouse Prowlers, Pink Lightning, Reptile Palace Orchestra, Jimmy Murn + The HeyMakers, a screening of Better Than Something: Jay Reatard, Sleeping in the Aviary, Shakey, "Euphony: The Pale Noir Experience," and Chez Bouche at the High Noon; and more! >More
Citizen Dave: Prescriptions for better political discussion -- stop whining and turn off the screamers Dave Cieslewicz on Tuesday 05/08/2012 11:28 am, (5) Comments On a historic primary election day, it's a good time to consider the nature of political discussion around here. There was a concern among a lot of Democrats that a gubernatorial recall primary would be bad for the party, but it turned out to be a pretty civil affair. In the end, the nominee will be better off for the ability to sharpen their message, and for having kept Scott Walker's attack machine more or less at bay for a few weeks. >More
Citizen Dave: Ron & Katie and Scott & Carol Dave Cieslewicz on Wednesday 05/16/2012 11:27 am Here's some news. Politics doesn't have to be divisive. Last night, I was invited to a meeting of Reach Out Wisconsin, a loosely formed group of Wisconsinites of various political stripes who want to prove that you can disagree without being disagreeable. >MoreCitizen Dave: The costs of college Dave Cieslewicz on Tuesday 05/15/2012 12:51 pm Why do we view a K-12 education as so important that we require it and offer it free of charge, but in an increasingly competitive world, we are making it harder to go beyond high school? When I came here to go to school at UW-Madison in 1979, my tuition was eight hundred and some dollars. >MoreCitizen Dave: Win one for the gaffer Dave Cieslewicz on Monday 05/14/2012 12:29 pm It seems to be in the nature of Barack Obama to see all the nuances. He has a mind that seeks out the views of the other side, and he is constitutionally inclined toward compromise. These are admirable qualities in a human being. But sometimes you want a guy like Joe Biden. The Vice President has had a long career in politics marked by bluntness and blunders. He's the gaffer-in-chief. >MoreCitizen Dave: The Week in Review... Fake Dems, Salem Witch Trials, and mandatory steroids for the Brewers Dave Cieslewicz on Friday 05/11/2012 4:48 pm There was big state political news this week. You know what I'm talking about. That's right. The Gladys Huber juggernaut. I hardly need to tell you, but The Gladys was the Fake Democratic candidate for governor and she sent shock waves through the political world by pulling down 0.7% of the primary vote for governor on Tuesday. >MoreCitizen Dave: Don't stop texting at council meetings Dave Cieslewicz on Thursday 05/10/2012 2:39 pm, (1) Comment The State Journal has started an interesting discussion about the use of text messaging and emails between alders, staff and lobbyists during council meetings. In the interests of open government, here's what I think should be done about it: nothing. >MoreCitizen Dave: Tom Barrett can do this Dave Cieslewicz on Wednesday 05/09/2012 6:22 pm, (2) Comments Tom Barrett was on fire last night. Through virtually all of his political career, Barrett has suffered the bad rap of being a nice guy without sufficient "fire in the belly." The guy won tough races for State Assembly, State Senate, Congress, Milwaukee Mayor, and came close in two grueling previous campaigns for governor. Nobody achieves all that without copious amounts of energy and drive. >MoreCitizen Dave: Prescriptions for better political discussion -- stop whining and turn off the screamers Dave Cieslewicz on Tuesday 05/08/2012 11:28 am, (5) Comments On a historic primary election day, it's a good time to consider the nature of political discussion around here. There was a concern among a lot of Democrats that a gubernatorial recall primary would be bad for the party, but it turned out to be a pretty civil affair. In the end, the nominee will be better off for the ability to sharpen their message, and for having kept Scott Walker's attack machine more or less at bay for a few weeks. >MoreCitizen Dave: Where's the discussion of urban policy? Dave Cieslewicz on Monday 05/07/2012 11:23 am Unless you were Scott Walker, the Democratic debate on Friday night was a display of Wisconsin nice. The candidates stuck to the issues, and Walker and pretty much left each other alone. For those who were worried that a primary would result in a big split in the party, that's not happening. >MoreCitizen Dave: The Week in Review... Walker prints money, Newt gets suspended, and, whatever you do, don't go Dave Cieslewicz on Friday 05/04/2012 1:52 pm The big news reported this week is that Scott Walker will officially have more money than God in the recall election. As a matter of fact, God called Walker this week to see if he could spot Him a couple of bucks. >MoreCitizen Dave: London mayor's personality might trump ideology Dave Cieslewicz on Thursday 05/03/2012 12:48 pm To me, the most unforgivable trait in any public person is the lack of a sense of humor. People who can't find a way to laugh at the circumstances they find themselves in, or make fun of themselves, are in danger of losing perspective and over-reacting, or becoming obsessed with something trivial. In short, a sense of humor is a sign that you can see the forest for the trees. >More> MORE FROM DAVE
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