Another reminder of how far the US has fallen in world standing was shoved in our faces yesterday. While most of the media sites were too absorbed in the opinions on race relations of an 81-year old man who somehow manages to appear in public with his wife one night and his girlfriend the next, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin told us that our manned space program is effectively grounded.
"After analyzing the sanctions against our space industry, I suggest to
the USA to bring their astronauts to the International Space Station
using a trampoline,"
Rogozin is one of the targets of sanctions approved by the Obama Administration and the European Union in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine. However, due to the termination of the Space Shuttle program--and cuts to NASA's budget for the Orion spacecraft program during the Obama Administration--the US (and really the entire world) is completely reliant upon Russia to get anyone to the International Space Station. And when you are completely reliant on someone for something--you find yourself in a lot of situations where you need to kiss a lot of butts--even if they are attached to tyrants.
How did this happen? How did we go from first to the moon, first to have a re-usable spacecraft and plans to be first on Mars to having the Russians mocking us for not being able to get anyone into space--much less exploring new frontiers? It sort of reminds me of the first dark days of the manned space program--1975 to 1981--when NASA didn't send any Americans went into space--after 20-years of historic success.
There are times when I have to double check the calendar to make sure we aren't back in 1978. For those of you "groovy" enough to remember, there was high, long-term unemployment, brutally cold winters, high gas prices, everyone was driving ugly little cars, nobody was "making" anything in the US and the powers that be in Washington were completely clueless as to how to get the country out of its "malaise".
Now we all know what eventually turned around that situation--so I guess we just have to wait two more years to make that happen--but in the meantime, we just have to hope that crappy dance music and polyester clothes don't come back into style--and that militant Islamists don't take a bunch of Americans hostage during this nostalgia piece.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
A Proper Punishment
Later today we'll find out what punishment NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will hand down to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his secretly-recorded comments about how he didn't want his bi-racial mistress to post pictures of herself with Magic Johnson on Instagram anymore and how she shouldn't bring black people to Clippers games. It's expected that the punishment will be similar to what Major League Baseball did to Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott back in the 1990's after she made comments about how Hitler "initially did good things for Germany, like building highways and factories--but then he went a little bit too far". Schott was suspended indefinitely and eventually was forced to sell the team.
And while the suspension and forced sale may seem like a "harsh" penalty, you need to keep in mind that Sterling paid just 12-million dollars for the Clips back in 1981. He would likely get more than a half-billion dollars for it now, even as part of a fire sale--as there are already multiple billionaire buyers lining up. So Donald Sterling stands to get out of this mess an even richer man (well, until he pays off the wife and the mistresses)--that will teach him to say racists things!
Wouldn't it be better to make Sterling have to pay some consequences for his actions? Why not make him keep the Clippers--but force him to operate under the standards he would actually prefer. That would mean no African-American players, no minorities fans in a city that is a "majority" of minorities, no employees of color working for minimum wage to sell popcorn and sweep up the arena. As an added bonus, you can borrow a punishment from the NCAA--ban the Clippers from television--no local tv rights, no share in the ESPN, ABC, Turner Sports or NBA TV revenues. The all-white Clippers can become franchisa non grata. Mr Sterling might feel the sting of punishment a bit more when he has to start dipping into his own pocket to cover the millions in losses he would likely incur under that scenario--rather than counting new-found millions.
But the more I think about it, that "punishment" might actually backfire. You see, the Clippers could likely find some European basketball genius to become General Manager and he would go out and sign all of the best European talent to come play in LA--I mean these residents of the Socialist Democratic Utopias are already used to racism in sports, as Africans in their leagues are taunted with monkey calls from fans and have bananas thrown at them on the fields. And with a bunch of guys trained in the Euro style of play, the Clips would have the most fundamentally-sound and best-shooting team in the NBA. They probably wouldn't have any problems finding a coach either. John Calipari comes to mind immediately as someone with no morals or scruples who would love to coach in LA for big bucks.
Another problem might be that the White Clippers would become the official franchise of a "certain element" of the American population. I can see parking lots outside of every other NBA arena filled with pickup trucks and RV's flying Confederate flags--and the stands inside reverberating with rebel yells during the game. And I can imagine entire sports talk show segments dedicated to "can you win an NBA title with just white players--and will this be the new trend in basketball?"
Maybe it might be best to just let the NBA save face as best they can and force Donald Sterling out with a fantastic golden parachute to cushion his fall. It's not like he's going to feel any guilt or shame for what he has done.
And while the suspension and forced sale may seem like a "harsh" penalty, you need to keep in mind that Sterling paid just 12-million dollars for the Clips back in 1981. He would likely get more than a half-billion dollars for it now, even as part of a fire sale--as there are already multiple billionaire buyers lining up. So Donald Sterling stands to get out of this mess an even richer man (well, until he pays off the wife and the mistresses)--that will teach him to say racists things!
Wouldn't it be better to make Sterling have to pay some consequences for his actions? Why not make him keep the Clippers--but force him to operate under the standards he would actually prefer. That would mean no African-American players, no minorities fans in a city that is a "majority" of minorities, no employees of color working for minimum wage to sell popcorn and sweep up the arena. As an added bonus, you can borrow a punishment from the NCAA--ban the Clippers from television--no local tv rights, no share in the ESPN, ABC, Turner Sports or NBA TV revenues. The all-white Clippers can become franchisa non grata. Mr Sterling might feel the sting of punishment a bit more when he has to start dipping into his own pocket to cover the millions in losses he would likely incur under that scenario--rather than counting new-found millions.
But the more I think about it, that "punishment" might actually backfire. You see, the Clippers could likely find some European basketball genius to become General Manager and he would go out and sign all of the best European talent to come play in LA--I mean these residents of the Socialist Democratic Utopias are already used to racism in sports, as Africans in their leagues are taunted with monkey calls from fans and have bananas thrown at them on the fields. And with a bunch of guys trained in the Euro style of play, the Clips would have the most fundamentally-sound and best-shooting team in the NBA. They probably wouldn't have any problems finding a coach either. John Calipari comes to mind immediately as someone with no morals or scruples who would love to coach in LA for big bucks.
Another problem might be that the White Clippers would become the official franchise of a "certain element" of the American population. I can see parking lots outside of every other NBA arena filled with pickup trucks and RV's flying Confederate flags--and the stands inside reverberating with rebel yells during the game. And I can imagine entire sports talk show segments dedicated to "can you win an NBA title with just white players--and will this be the new trend in basketball?"
Maybe it might be best to just let the NBA save face as best they can and force Donald Sterling out with a fantastic golden parachute to cushion his fall. It's not like he's going to feel any guilt or shame for what he has done.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Everything is Political
One of the sidebars to the controversy that erupted over the weekend from the release of audio tape purportedly exposing Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racists comments about his mistress posting pictures of herself with Magic Johnson on "the Instagram" was the efforts by political bloggers to tie him to one of the political parties--and to make him the new face of their bigotry.
The initial Twitter traffic pegged Sterling as "another" Republican racist--posting links to campaign donation records showing Sterling giving tens of thousands to GOP candidates. The only problem was, that was a different Donald Sterling--who lives in Texas--and likely didn't appreciate the controversy that his more-famous namesake was creating for him. Further research found that THE Donald Sterling had given all of $6000 to Senator Bill Bradley--a Hall of Fame basketball player--and Gray Davis--the Democratic Governor who was recalled in favor of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
After that, it was Donald Sterling--the DEMOCRATIC DONOR AND FUNDRAISER RACIST--among everyone on the right. But what we have no real idea of is what Sterling's political alliances are based on those TWO contributions. He obviously knew Senator Bradley from his NBA playing days. And Gray Davis was just as kooky as Sterling is--so they likely spoke a common language. I don't recall seeing Donald Sterling on MSNBC bashing income inequality from his Beverly Hills mansion. And the Clippers didn't have "Sign up for ObamaCare Night" at the Forum this past season.
Why does it surprise people that everything is so partisan in Washington or Madison when everyone outside of politics is still identified by their party affiliation? It makes you wonder if Jeffrey Dahmer had committed his killing spree today, if every news report would include the line "Dahmer--who had a Scott Walker For Governor sign in his yard--lured his victims in with promises of a good meal." Another good headline would be the "Cannibal Republican Preys Upon Milwaukee Men".
Here's a shocker for everybody, bigotry knows no political boundaries. It can be seen on one side that believes minority power is a threat--and on the other side that sees minority populations as totally incapable of taking care of themselves.
The initial Twitter traffic pegged Sterling as "another" Republican racist--posting links to campaign donation records showing Sterling giving tens of thousands to GOP candidates. The only problem was, that was a different Donald Sterling--who lives in Texas--and likely didn't appreciate the controversy that his more-famous namesake was creating for him. Further research found that THE Donald Sterling had given all of $6000 to Senator Bill Bradley--a Hall of Fame basketball player--and Gray Davis--the Democratic Governor who was recalled in favor of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
After that, it was Donald Sterling--the DEMOCRATIC DONOR AND FUNDRAISER RACIST--among everyone on the right. But what we have no real idea of is what Sterling's political alliances are based on those TWO contributions. He obviously knew Senator Bradley from his NBA playing days. And Gray Davis was just as kooky as Sterling is--so they likely spoke a common language. I don't recall seeing Donald Sterling on MSNBC bashing income inequality from his Beverly Hills mansion. And the Clippers didn't have "Sign up for ObamaCare Night" at the Forum this past season.
Why does it surprise people that everything is so partisan in Washington or Madison when everyone outside of politics is still identified by their party affiliation? It makes you wonder if Jeffrey Dahmer had committed his killing spree today, if every news report would include the line "Dahmer--who had a Scott Walker For Governor sign in his yard--lured his victims in with promises of a good meal." Another good headline would be the "Cannibal Republican Preys Upon Milwaukee Men".
Here's a shocker for everybody, bigotry knows no political boundaries. It can be seen on one side that believes minority power is a threat--and on the other side that sees minority populations as totally incapable of taking care of themselves.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Belief
A new poll out this week shows that Americans only tend to believe what they can actually see. It's why there is not universal belief in the Big Bang Theory (even though the Hubble Telescope has given us a glimpse into the earliest days of the universe on numerous ocassions). It's why there remains doubt about global warming (just look at the winter and the spring we had in most of the country--and the forecasts that show below normal temps for at least the next month). And it's why so many doubt Evolution (all of those animals look the same as they did years ago).
Obviously, religion plays a major role in some of that disbelief in science. If you were like me, you were given the Biblical explanation for creation from your earliest days as a child and then the actual scientific reason for most things was given to you later. Eventually you had to make a decision--do I go with what I learn in church (which is based on the writings of 14th century monks, or do I go with reasoned explanations provided by modern learning (and risk going to Hell)?
Politics plays a role in disbelief as well. That is the excuse given for the doubt in MAN-MADE global warming--politicians are interfering with the dissemination of scientific data. I always laugh at the accusation that I am a "climate change denier" because I will readily admit that the Earth is getting warmer. I just prefer to begin my "global climate change" graphs at the end of the last Ice Age--which provides a very steady increase in average temperatures--as opposed to the "hockey stick" graph that takes into account a much shorter time period and produces a much "scarier" upturn in temps. What I also question is how spending trillions of dollars and limiting the growth of human economic evolution is going to fix the problem.
And this "I'll believe it when I see it" mentality is why the Obama Administration is never going to convince people that the Affordable Care Act is "working"--so few of us have actually seen any benefits. The number 8-million sign ups is celebrated as a victory--but the vast majority of those are people who had insurance but the policies were cancelled due to ACA requirements. That leaves about 2-million "newly insured" (and nobody can confirm that either). Millions more were put into Medicaid programs--but we don't know those numbers either. So that leaves at least 300-million people who only know that the ACA brought them another 8% increase in their insurance premiums this year (which apparently passes for "affordable" nowadays) and that the website that was four years in the making that still didn't work right.
Perhaps we should consider changing our motto from "In God we trust" to "The Show Me Nation."
Obviously, religion plays a major role in some of that disbelief in science. If you were like me, you were given the Biblical explanation for creation from your earliest days as a child and then the actual scientific reason for most things was given to you later. Eventually you had to make a decision--do I go with what I learn in church (which is based on the writings of 14th century monks, or do I go with reasoned explanations provided by modern learning (and risk going to Hell)?
Politics plays a role in disbelief as well. That is the excuse given for the doubt in MAN-MADE global warming--politicians are interfering with the dissemination of scientific data. I always laugh at the accusation that I am a "climate change denier" because I will readily admit that the Earth is getting warmer. I just prefer to begin my "global climate change" graphs at the end of the last Ice Age--which provides a very steady increase in average temperatures--as opposed to the "hockey stick" graph that takes into account a much shorter time period and produces a much "scarier" upturn in temps. What I also question is how spending trillions of dollars and limiting the growth of human economic evolution is going to fix the problem.
And this "I'll believe it when I see it" mentality is why the Obama Administration is never going to convince people that the Affordable Care Act is "working"--so few of us have actually seen any benefits. The number 8-million sign ups is celebrated as a victory--but the vast majority of those are people who had insurance but the policies were cancelled due to ACA requirements. That leaves about 2-million "newly insured" (and nobody can confirm that either). Millions more were put into Medicaid programs--but we don't know those numbers either. So that leaves at least 300-million people who only know that the ACA brought them another 8% increase in their insurance premiums this year (which apparently passes for "affordable" nowadays) and that the website that was four years in the making that still didn't work right.
Perhaps we should consider changing our motto from "In God we trust" to "The Show Me Nation."
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Little Orphan Arena
This is a great time of year to be a hockey fan. The NHL Playoffs are on TV every night, showcasing the passion, intensity and speed to an increasing audience. But there is now a cloud that has settled over the sport here in the Fox Valley--as the Tri-County Ice Arena appears to be on its way to closure. This week, the Winnebago County Board--which serves as the de facto owner of the facility--stripped County Executive Mark Harris of the power to negotiate the management contract for the arena. Any agreement will now have to win approval from 36 members of the County Board--the majority of whom have no interest in operating an ice arena.
The fate of Tri-County may have been sealed from the beginning. The arena was built by a private entity and then "gifted" to Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties for continued operation. As we point out endlessly in this forum, people (including County Board members) place no real value on something they didn't have to pay for. Calumet County thought so little of the "gift" that they contributed ZERO dollars to any improvement or maintenance projects. And because the arena sits in the town of Menasha, Outagamie County officials quickly lost interest and refused to put any money into it either--selling their "share" for a whopping $1 a couple of years ago.
In the vacuum of disinterest from the counties, the Tri-County Recreation Association--made up largely of the user groups--stepped up and kept the place running. Holding fundraisers to purchase ice-surfacing equipment and furniture. But they have never been able to get the cash needed for major projects--like fixing the parking lot that looks like a military bombing range--or patching a leaky roof. Fed up with the lack of help--and the subsequent power play by the County Board, the Recreation Association is throwing in the towel--not submitting a proposal to continue operations this year. The three companies that did submit offers didn't meet the requirements set out by the County--namely, you run the place and fix all of the problems out of your own pocket. And really, who in their right mind would stick money into a facility that you don't own?
Despite reassurances (some with smirks) from Supervisors this week that the arena won't close, it almost appears to be a foregone conclusion--since the timeline to find a solution has been pinched so tight by the Board's action this week. (Ironically, the vote to take that power away from County Executive Harris came the same day he announced he was running for Congress). Once the arena does close, it will leave three high school teams and several youth hockey and figure skating programs with nowhere to practice and compete. Knowing hockey parents, they'll still schlep their kids to Green Bay, or Oshkosh or even Waupaca to get ice time--but some families will decide that effort isn't worth it--and their kids will no longer compete.
We talk about how youth sports teaches kids so many life lessons--like sportsmanship, teamwork and the feeling of accomplishment through hard work. But for kids who have played at Tri-County, they'll get a bonus lesson: If you leave government in control of something long enough--it will end up in complete and total disaster.
The fate of Tri-County may have been sealed from the beginning. The arena was built by a private entity and then "gifted" to Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties for continued operation. As we point out endlessly in this forum, people (including County Board members) place no real value on something they didn't have to pay for. Calumet County thought so little of the "gift" that they contributed ZERO dollars to any improvement or maintenance projects. And because the arena sits in the town of Menasha, Outagamie County officials quickly lost interest and refused to put any money into it either--selling their "share" for a whopping $1 a couple of years ago.
In the vacuum of disinterest from the counties, the Tri-County Recreation Association--made up largely of the user groups--stepped up and kept the place running. Holding fundraisers to purchase ice-surfacing equipment and furniture. But they have never been able to get the cash needed for major projects--like fixing the parking lot that looks like a military bombing range--or patching a leaky roof. Fed up with the lack of help--and the subsequent power play by the County Board, the Recreation Association is throwing in the towel--not submitting a proposal to continue operations this year. The three companies that did submit offers didn't meet the requirements set out by the County--namely, you run the place and fix all of the problems out of your own pocket. And really, who in their right mind would stick money into a facility that you don't own?
Despite reassurances (some with smirks) from Supervisors this week that the arena won't close, it almost appears to be a foregone conclusion--since the timeline to find a solution has been pinched so tight by the Board's action this week. (Ironically, the vote to take that power away from County Executive Harris came the same day he announced he was running for Congress). Once the arena does close, it will leave three high school teams and several youth hockey and figure skating programs with nowhere to practice and compete. Knowing hockey parents, they'll still schlep their kids to Green Bay, or Oshkosh or even Waupaca to get ice time--but some families will decide that effort isn't worth it--and their kids will no longer compete.
We talk about how youth sports teaches kids so many life lessons--like sportsmanship, teamwork and the feeling of accomplishment through hard work. But for kids who have played at Tri-County, they'll get a bonus lesson: If you leave government in control of something long enough--it will end up in complete and total disaster.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Leave the White Hoods at Home, Golfers
It didn't get a lot of attention last week (because CNN remains in 24/7 coverage of the missing Malaysian Airlines jet, FOX News is demanding answers from Hillary Clinton for the deaths in Benghazi, and MSNBC continues to move the goal posts for President Obama to keep spiking the ball on the "success" of the Affordable Care Act), but baseball hall of famer Hank Aaron made waves with some comments comparing Republicans who oppose the President to members of the Ku Klux Klan.
“Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he’s treated,” Aaron told USA Today Sports.
Aaron continued: “The bigger difference is that back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts.”
I'm guessing that Hammerin' Hank thinks those same Republicans were sexist when they opposed government control of health care originally proposed by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton in the 1990's. He must also consider Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale as "racist" as well--since they spent their careers trying to strike him out--instead of just letting him hit the ball out of the park every at bat.
So imagine my surprise when the folks at US Venture announced yesterday that Hank Aaron will be the guest of honor at this year's Golf Open. When he comes here to the Fox Valley, Hank will be asking hundreds, if not thousands of Republicans who are opposed to the political policies of President Obama to open their wallets and give more money to a number of local community foundations. That money will go to programs that provide basic needs to people in the area--many of whom are racial minorities. And by purchasing a foursome in the tournament, those Republicans will be giving more to charity in one day than Vice President Joe Biden did all of last year.
I doubt those small business owners, corporate executives and other fiscal conservatives will be boycotting the US Venture Open in August because of Mr Aaron's comments. And I am certainly not suggesting that anyone not give to the event--because of all the good it does. I would suggest that there still be standing ovations for Hank based on his accomplishments in the face of real racism (and without taking steroids)--and forgiveness for the bitterness that apparently still lingers.
“Sure, this country has a black president, but when you look at a black president, President Obama is left with his foot stuck in the mud from all of the Republicans with the way he’s treated,” Aaron told USA Today Sports.
Aaron continued: “The bigger difference is that back then they had hoods. Now they have neckties and starched shirts.”
I'm guessing that Hammerin' Hank thinks those same Republicans were sexist when they opposed government control of health care originally proposed by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton in the 1990's. He must also consider Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale as "racist" as well--since they spent their careers trying to strike him out--instead of just letting him hit the ball out of the park every at bat.
So imagine my surprise when the folks at US Venture announced yesterday that Hank Aaron will be the guest of honor at this year's Golf Open. When he comes here to the Fox Valley, Hank will be asking hundreds, if not thousands of Republicans who are opposed to the political policies of President Obama to open their wallets and give more money to a number of local community foundations. That money will go to programs that provide basic needs to people in the area--many of whom are racial minorities. And by purchasing a foursome in the tournament, those Republicans will be giving more to charity in one day than Vice President Joe Biden did all of last year.
I doubt those small business owners, corporate executives and other fiscal conservatives will be boycotting the US Venture Open in August because of Mr Aaron's comments. And I am certainly not suggesting that anyone not give to the event--because of all the good it does. I would suggest that there still be standing ovations for Hank based on his accomplishments in the face of real racism (and without taking steroids)--and forgiveness for the bitterness that apparently still lingers.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Well, This Will Be Awkward
It will be interesting to see how seriously the major media outlets in Wisconsin treat State Representative Brett Hulsey's candidacy for Governor. Yesterday's announcement that he is going to challenge Mary Burke for the Democratic nomination came out of nowhere--which is pretty much par for the course when dealing with Hulsey.
To call Hulsey's behavior "erratic" is to be kind. This is a man who once took it upon himself to throw then-Mayor Paul Soglin's grandson in a Madison lake because he was splashing some girls at the beach. This is a guy who once told the Dane County Board that he lived in fear of the Sheriff's Deputies union rigging his car with a bomb set to go off when he started the vehicle. This is a politician who once commandeered the podium in front of all the cameras at a press conference for Governor Scott Walker to condemn Act Ten. This is a man who once threatened to bring his muzzleloader rifle to the floor of the Assembly and shoot it at then-Majority Leader Bill Kramer's head (I bet Republican party leaders now wish he had actually done that). And he is the guy who brought a boxcutter to the Capitol so that he "teach" his twenty-something female aid the art of self-defense.
Hulsey is also a conspiracy theorist. He accused Mayor Soglin of "political bullying" by charging him with disorderly conduct in what he calls the "beach kerfuffle". He thought the deputies were trying to kill him because of a contract dispute with the county. And he accuses Governor Walker of trying to "destroy his political career" by releasing the police report detailing the boxcutter incident and how it drove his aide to quit her job (even though the report was released following a Freedom of Information Act filing).
But Hulsey isn't your run of the mill political crackpot that can be ignored--like the two other Democrats already challenging Mary Burke, can you name them? He actually holds elected office. The good people of Madison have elected him to the Assembly twice--after putting him on the Dane County Board for 7-terms. Further complicating things, Hulsey self-admits to having psychological problems. He claims to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to physical and emotional abuse by his father while he was a child--and that is why he acts the way he acts.
It will be interesting to see if the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association holds a debate featuring Burke and Hulsey before the primary--as they have in the past when there are two "viable" candidates in the race. Will the media outlets and wispolitics.com assign reporters to follow Hulsey around and blog about his every campaign speech and appearance. And how will the inevitable bizarre statements and actions be treated in those stories? Will they be prefaced by "Representative Brett Hulsey--who suffers from PTSD--today promised to throw Governor Scott Walker in prison for life for treason if elected to fill that same position"? And does Mary Burke actually answer the accusations that she is not "liberal enough" to be the Democratic nominee?
Brett Hulsey's entry into the race for Governor may not make it more competitive or even more interesting. But it will definitely be more awkward.
To call Hulsey's behavior "erratic" is to be kind. This is a man who once took it upon himself to throw then-Mayor Paul Soglin's grandson in a Madison lake because he was splashing some girls at the beach. This is a guy who once told the Dane County Board that he lived in fear of the Sheriff's Deputies union rigging his car with a bomb set to go off when he started the vehicle. This is a politician who once commandeered the podium in front of all the cameras at a press conference for Governor Scott Walker to condemn Act Ten. This is a man who once threatened to bring his muzzleloader rifle to the floor of the Assembly and shoot it at then-Majority Leader Bill Kramer's head (I bet Republican party leaders now wish he had actually done that). And he is the guy who brought a boxcutter to the Capitol so that he "teach" his twenty-something female aid the art of self-defense.
Hulsey is also a conspiracy theorist. He accused Mayor Soglin of "political bullying" by charging him with disorderly conduct in what he calls the "beach kerfuffle". He thought the deputies were trying to kill him because of a contract dispute with the county. And he accuses Governor Walker of trying to "destroy his political career" by releasing the police report detailing the boxcutter incident and how it drove his aide to quit her job (even though the report was released following a Freedom of Information Act filing).
But Hulsey isn't your run of the mill political crackpot that can be ignored--like the two other Democrats already challenging Mary Burke, can you name them? He actually holds elected office. The good people of Madison have elected him to the Assembly twice--after putting him on the Dane County Board for 7-terms. Further complicating things, Hulsey self-admits to having psychological problems. He claims to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to physical and emotional abuse by his father while he was a child--and that is why he acts the way he acts.
It will be interesting to see if the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association holds a debate featuring Burke and Hulsey before the primary--as they have in the past when there are two "viable" candidates in the race. Will the media outlets and wispolitics.com assign reporters to follow Hulsey around and blog about his every campaign speech and appearance. And how will the inevitable bizarre statements and actions be treated in those stories? Will they be prefaced by "Representative Brett Hulsey--who suffers from PTSD--today promised to throw Governor Scott Walker in prison for life for treason if elected to fill that same position"? And does Mary Burke actually answer the accusations that she is not "liberal enough" to be the Democratic nominee?
Brett Hulsey's entry into the race for Governor may not make it more competitive or even more interesting. But it will definitely be more awkward.
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