Democratic Party of Milwaukee County blogs

May Newsletter

Sat, 10 May 2008 15:09:01 -0500

Dear Wisconsin Democrat,

With much attention being rightly paid right now to the Democratic Presidential contests in various states, we cannot forget that Wisconsin will once again be a battleground as we edge closer to November. No state was closer in the past two presidential contests than Wisconsin, and with no statewide candidates up for reelection this year, combined with our desire to increase our majority in the State Senate and retake the State Assembly, it’s critically important that our party do everything possible early on so that we can be successful this election.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is already leading the way and has started to implement an exciting new program that empowers local Democrats and gives Progressives from Marinette to Monroe the ability to easily reach out to their neighbors in their own communities – igniting a powerful grassroots network of activists that will lead us to victory this November.

Thought for the day -- or 2008

Tue, 8 Jan 2008 18:14:22 -0600

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

-- Plato

Of New York Times columnists

Mon, 7 Jan 2008 19:27:04 -0600

So, here's my theory:

The liberal media are so devious that they deliberately pick the lamest conservatives to balance their op ed pages. Locally, that would be Cal Thomas and Patrick Mclheran.

The New York Times recently presented us with an even more striking case: William Kristol. If you don't know what I mean, check out a recent "This Modern World."

Iowa has spoken. On to New Hampshire

Sun, 6 Jan 2008 18:28:26 -0600

Love 'em or hate 'em, the Iowa caucuses have served to tighten up the Deomcratic Presidential campaign. Biden and Dodd are out. Obama is the anointed leader, and Clinton and Edwards appear to be duking it out for second place.

What's your reaction? Anyone trying to handicap New Hampshire?

January 2008 Newsletter

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:18:35 -0600

Dear Wisconsin Progressive,

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. While I will continue to stand up for the values we share, the New Year brings with it increased opportunity to get our country moving in the right direction.

And while we must fight hard this year to take back the State Assembly, increase our seats in the State Senate, get veto-proof majorities in Congress, and elect a Democrat to the White House in November, there is an election in April that deserves our attention.

If last year's volatile State Supreme Court race was any glimpse of things to come, outside special interests will do everything they can to unseat Justice Louis Butler.

Justice Butler is a highly regarded legal scholar who attended Lawrence University in Appleton and law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For the last 11 years, he has served with distinction as a faculty member of the National Judicial College, where he teaches criminal law to judges from across the country and around the world. Justice Butler has spent the last 15 years as a judge, building a record we can all be proud of as he's worked to make our state stronger and safer.

Stop Media Consolidation, Step 2

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:57:50 -0600

No real shock, but the FCC has gone ahead and promulgated its new rules allowing further consolidation of news media.

The revisions are widely decried as a dangerous move to consolidate news media in this country. (See, e.g., http://freepress.net/

The next line of defense is for Congress to reverse the FCC's rule-making. See, e.g. http://cantwell.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=289297

To send a message to your senators and U.S. representative, use this link: http://www.usalone.com/stop_media_consolidation.php.

Stop Media Consolidation [fyi]

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:47:45 -0600

This coming Tuesday, December 11, is the LAST day to send your comments to the FCC, opposing Chairman Kevin J. Martin's plan to revise the rules of media ownership in the U.S. The proposed revisions are widely decried as a dangerous move to consolidate news media in this country. (See, e.g., http://freepress.net/ To send a message to your senators and U.S. representative, use this link: http://www.usalone.com/stop_media_consolidation.php [This information is posted for the information of our members, and is not officially endorsed by the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County.]

Good to be here!

Fri, 7 Dec 2007 10:11:57 -0600

Just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself (and test this blog tool). I'm one of the original "Tosans for Change,"and got involved most heavily during the Kerry campaign of '04. Met a lot of good people, and now, with Dean's 50-state strategy, I'm excited to be a Dem! Greg

A Thank You from a Next-Generation Dem

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:00:58 -0500

Subject: Thank You Again For Your Help
From: Ryan Neibauer
Date: Thu, 28 Jun

I wanted to thank you again for your generous donation to allow me to attend the 2007 Model U.S. House of Representatives. It really turned out to be an amazing week. I wanted to give you a little recap of what I all experienced during my time in Washington.

There were many highlights of the week. One being that because I was representing the 5th District of WI which is of course Congressman Sensenbrenner's district and due to the Congressman's seniority in Congress, I was the ranking Minority Member of both of my committee's which were the Foreign Relations Committee and the Financial Services Committee. Both hearings were held in actual committee rooms on the hill. The Foreign Relations Committee met in the Energy and Commerce Committee room and the Financial Services Committee met in the Financial Services Committee room.

Water Wise in Wisconsin: Charting the Course for our Water Future

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:52:50 -0500

Water-Wise in Wisconsin: Charting the Course for our Water Future

On March 17, come out to Carroll College in Waukesha for workshops that address conserving, improving, maintaining and advocating for sustainable water resources. Keynote speaker will be Peter Annin, author of Great Lakes Water Wars.

Registration begins at 8:30 am. Registration fee is $15 at the door, price of admission includes a lunch that is only guaranteed to those who have already pre-registered by March 12.

Location: Carroll College.
Time: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm.
Contact: For more information on registering, contact Rosemary Wehnes at
rosemary.wehnes@sierraclub.org or 414-453-3127. Or click here: http://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/273/mtgregister.asp?formid=meet&c=7665606

Click here for directions to the Carroll College campus:

Save the Date-Falk Rally Tue Mar 6 (School Bd dist 8)

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:55:54 -0600

Dear Friends,

In the recent primary Terry Falk
finished first, ahead of the incumbent,
Joe Dannecker, 44% to 37%. Falk is ready to roll up his sleeves and get
to work. But he needs your help to win the Milwaukee School Board 8th
District seat on April 3.

We have a lot of work to do to improve our schools. Joe Dannecker refers
to the current decline of our Milwaukee Public schools as "reform." We
call it regressive, and we deserve better!

In 2003, Dannecker received 60% of his campaign funding from out of
state, including voucher advocates such as the Walton Family of
Wal-Mart. Checks flowed from places like New York and Wyoming to fund
Dannecker's campaign.

Terry Falk receives most of his campaign funding from people within the

School Board District 8: Reminder to vote Tuesday, Feb 20th

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:04:26 -0600

Tuesday, February 20th is the primary. Tuesday is your chance as
a parent and taxpayer to have a say which way our schools are
headed.

Terry Falk, a Bay View resident, is a career educator who offers
creative solutions to problems afflicting Milwaukee Public
Schools.

Falk is running against incumbent Joe Dannecker for the 8th
district school board seat. On Dannecker's watch, we have seen
our high schools suffer from disorganization and violence. We
have watched this school board eliminate vital programs in
art, music, physical education, library services, and guidance
counseling. Dannecker refers to this decline of our schools as
"reform." We call it regressive, and we deserve better!

In 2003, Dannecker received 60% of his campaign funding from out
of state, including voucher advocates such as the Walton Family of

A message from Sen. Reid about Sen. Johnson's condition

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:03:46 -0600

Dear MD,

As you probably have heard by now, Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota became ill yesterday and was taken to the hospital.

The thoughts and prayers of everyone here in the Senate are with Tim and his family.

Tim is getting the finest care in the world at George Washington University Hospital. I, along with Senator Daschle, were with his family last night and this morning.

Admiral John Eisold, Attending Physician of the United States Capitol just released a statement saying, "Senator Tim Johnson has continued to have an uncomplicated post-operative course. Specifically, he has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required."

As Senator Johnson continues his recovery, the Senate continues to prepare for the 110th Congress. There's a lot to do on behalf of the American people, and we are looking forward to getting to work next year.

Prayers and Positive Energy for Senator Johnson

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:21:01 -0600

Our hearts go out to Sen. Tim Johnson (D) of South Dakota who was hospitalized yesterday.

According to CNN.com: "Adm. John Eisold, attending physician of the U.S. Capitol, told CNN that Johnson had 'an intracerebral bleed caused by a congenital arteriovenous malformation. He underwent successful surgery to evacuate the blood and stabilize the malformation.'

"'It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long term prognosis,' Eisold said."

We pray for Sen. Johnson's speedy recovery.

"tipping point" Senate races: Your last min $ can make a difference

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 22:45:09 -0600

With help from friends I
put together this list of 5 close US Senate Races.

Please consider donating
a (small) amount to one or more of them *tonight*.

--
Thanks

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How about a last minute donation of $50 to your choice of 3 Democrats in these
close US Senate races (Webb and McCaskill may need it most)?:

Virginia: Jim Webb
donate
Missouri: Claire McCaskill
donate
Tennessee: Harold Ford
donate
Montana: Joh Tester
donate
New Jersey: Bob Menendez
donate

Another alternative:
make a contribution to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)
today and it will be matched 3-to-1 by Democratic House Leadership for
every dollar contributed online effectively giving you four times the
impact to helping win a Democratic majority