Category Archive: Politics
City Council Meeting, April 22nd
As most of us may have anticipated, the Mayoral veto on restructuring committee appointment procedures set the stage for a contentious City Council meeting here in Wausau last night. As a regular attender of said meetings, this was a night of firsts. This was the first time that I have ever seen the room full (perhaps people were expecting a dog fight of sorts). It was also the first time I have ever seen anyone register for comments in advance. And, it was the first time I have ever seen a Point of Order come from the crowd.
Along with these …
Cool Dude: Postponed
With the election taking place yesterday, I decided to take a week off from celebration. It sort of brings the past couple of weeks together though, Tipple then Hadley, then the voters. So rather than move on, we’ll post the results, and you can see the turnout and how your future will be affected by your action or inaction.
Here are the results, thanks to the City of Wausau.
County-wide races and their status as of 4/2/2008 11:34:37 AM
SUMMARY REPORT
RUN DATE:04/01/08
RUN TIME:10:38 PM
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Cool Dude #4: The Voters
I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.
I have fallen back on that quote often in my life. It comes as the closing paragraph in Abraham Lincoln inaugural address. I think …
Mike Morrissey on Leave
This just in! This just in! Michael Morrissey placed on Administrative Leave.
As you read in the previous post, Mr. Morrissey is in the middle of a rather messy legal issue involving a former Wausau employee who it appears that he terminated. This whole saga is really quite ugly; both sides have spoken in the media using unflattering terms about one another, claiming inappropriate relationships on the staff, violation of city policies regarding cellphones and text messaging, and even accusing people of stealing funds. For some of the details please see the Jasurda document (PDF) regarding her …
Credit Card Scandal?
Recently there was a credit card scandal reported, one involving a former Development Office employee. We’ve received a copy of a document that is clearly in regards to a suit filed by the former employee regarding the work place, and her position there.
Download the Jasurda Document (PDF)
What I find the most interesting in this document is the intermingling of City departments, and how it all works. Clearly the presence of an employee of a different agency at the meeting, as is alleged in this document is a bit interesting.
Being new, and hopefully unjaded by the whole …
Cool Dude #3: Jim Tipple
[A Note from Dino: We again want to state that these pieces are not about candidates. They are about people in office, already serving. It is not our intention to create buzz for candidates, or to show support one way or another. We believe that people who are willing to stand up and lead are cool dudes. Each and every one of them. Even if we do not agree with them. We also want to remind you, that we reserve the right to remove that that is uncivil or factually incorrect. We …
Cool Dude #2: Deb Hadley
(A note on Candidates, and Councilpersons pieces: I want to be clear that my writing these pieces is not an endorsement of any person. I have a clear view as to what I believe, and I have no problem with that view, but these pieces focus on the act of service. As always, we ask for your comments. We ask that your discussion be civil, fact-based, and respectful of these very real people who live in our city. These are people with children, with families, and with feelings like you and I. We are …
Leftist Claptrap in a Time of Righteousness
I don’t know what all I’m trying to accomplish by writing this article. Venting, yes. Provoking response, maybe. Affecting/changing alternate opinions, not likely. Rambling on in a stream-of-consciousness rant, most likely. Wasting my virtual breath, hope not.
Last week, I read an article on cnn.com about a Congressional hearing in D.C. on the subject of CEO compensation (i.e. huge salaries and perks) even in cases when those executives’ companies have performed miserably. While that story dealt with individuals walking away with dozens, even hundreds, of millions of dollars when their companies are tanking, it brought to mind recent developments in our …
Seven Questions written in hiding in the Library One Afternoon
I have found that the longer I go unplugged from the world of cyberspace, the better things get for me. We have a rule up north: no laptops (unless you’re a musician from outside of Wisconsin, then we understand). We try to let you do your business, but eventually we encourage you to put it away. I try that on weekends, and it really works well. Sitting in the library reminds me that ideas are often the best when they are on paper, not on a screen. I remember in college carrying around giant anthologies, …
Small Updates
“Its gonna be the future soon, I won’t always be this way!” - Jonathon Coulton
I wanted to sit down and do a bit of an update this fine Tuesday morning. Tea in hand, Mariah Carey on the mp3 player, and capezios on my feet. Thinking about the one who got away in high school. Oh, Laura, I am so sorry.
Regardless of the melancholy of a 30-something, non Timothy Busfield guy, I thought we could talk a little bit about the future, or really the present (with a slight twinkle in our eye about the future). We, as a group, have gotten over the hump and finally feel good. We have a strong group of supporters, a bunch of frequent commentors, and some great mentors guiding us in this venture. So, thanks to you all.