Hulsey's gumption applauded
While I appreciate the need for a unified voice, as well as the stand Wisconsin Dems took against Gov. Walker, it's difficult not to see their response to Brett Hulsey as the typically weak don't-rock-the-boat attitude that has traditionally made Democrats at all levels so ineffective ("Why Brett Hulsey Won't Shut Up," 4/22/11). I think I speak for many when I say the Democrats could use more outspoken, unafraid voices to defend the people of Wisconsin against the hostility of our governor.
David A. Hammond
Readers rebuke WIBA's McKenna
I was glad to see Madison firefighter Laura Laurenzi calling out WIBA radio host Vicki McKenna for her outrageous and dishonest comments about the April 16 tea party rally ("Madison Firefighters Under Fire," 4/29/11). Members of Local 311, the Madison firefighters union, never booed during the singing of the National Anthem or stirred up violence and disruption.
I have participated in many of the rallies and can tell you the firefighters have led with bagpipes and the American flag. To call them or other union members "thugs" is a disgrace. I hope Ms. McKenna will publicly apologize for her vile comments.
Billy Feitlinger
To hear Vicki McKenna shrilly attack firefighters resembles the shriek of a wounded animal. The wound is her perceived belief something she owns has been yanked away from her. She and many of her Republican/tea party cohorts behave as if firefighters, police, military, God, the country, the flag morality, etc., are a wholly owned subsidiary of their "cause." You have no evidence to your claims. Shame on you, Vicki!
John Seguin
I was quite shocked to read the article concerning Vicki McKenna's comments about firefighters' behavior at the tea party rally. I wasn't surprised to read there wasn't any actual proof of such behavior. Thank you for reprinting those emails sent to [Local 311], which are quite telling of the tea party as a whole.
Cody Richard Lemke
Vicki McKenna's false tirade against city of Madison firefighters and police officers comes as no surprise. Why should we expect anything else from someone who NEVER allows an opposing viewpoint on her talk show?
Jim Brigham, Lake Mills
More on Blaska
In his response to my response to a reader letter (Letters, 4/29/11), David Blaska cherry-picks my Facebook affiliations to discredit me - somebody who has friended Ben Manski can't possibly call himself a conservative!
Yet the word conservatism has historically been used to describe ideas shared by all. Everybody I know and have ever known is "a sort-of-conservative." Blaska's simpleminded "with me or against me" mindset is a backwards approach.
Gregor Mieder
That David Blaska is apparently unable to fathom that someone could consider himself "sort-of-conservative" and still enjoy watching Rachel Maddow says a lot more about Blaska's calcified thinking than it does about the person Blaska tried to paint with his ad hominem brush.
John Cain
Blaska's letter could almost be Exhibit A as evidence why he belongs in your pages, however much some of your readers want him banished. He seems to have fun doing what he's doing, and he makes the paper funnier and more fun to read than all your other writers with their Sarah Palin/Scott Walker/Donald Trump/etc. "jokes," one-and-a-half entendres and, of course, their righteous pomposity, combined.
Randy B. Christianson
A nation in decline
The cartoon is wrong (This Modern World, 4/29/11). It is not two guys on an incline. First, it's a decline, not an incline. Incline means upward. Second, it's the whole country, not just two guys.
This cartoon should be on the front page. Too bad you guys are such Obama-sympathizing wienies.
Melvin Stark, Marshall
