Hunting Season

All those yard signs touting candidates for State Assembly district # 24 assure one thing: a spirited September primary!

(Not sure if you're in the 24th Assembly district?  If you live in G-town or Butler, the answer is yes.  Most of Menomonee Falls as well.  To find out for sure, go here).

I think I've got the Republican Assembly candidates sussed pretty well, but here's some links so you can read what they have to say and decide for yourself: Dan Knodl, Jason LaSage, Randy Melchert, and Michael Moscicke.  (Note that the links for the first three candidates are from a JSonline article and appear to be their respective official campaign sites.  I googled Michael's name for his link).

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On the U.S. Congress side, there's an interesting and very unusual development in the race for Wisconsin's 5th district: a new Republican candidate with the stones to take on long-time (nearly 30-year) incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner.  His name?  Jim Burkee.

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Tuesday Sept. 9th is the day of the primary election, so educate yourself on the candidates and get out there and vote!  For those in the Falls, note that some polling locations have changed.  Primary elections are ideal for first-time voters to register, learn the mechanics of casting a ballot in a "low-pressure environment", and experience the beauty of democracy first-hand.

How can you not love this country?

As I was watching Brew Crew games on TV the last few days, I was constantly seeing the ad run by the Republican National Committee about how our Republican nominee will combat climate change.  Just what is the RNC thinking here?  I guess next we'll see, what, Sen. McCain's plan for universal healthcare (and at taxpayer expense)?

I've done enough independent observation and study on Presidential political campaigns to confirm that one goes for "the base" in the primaries, and then goes for "the middle" in the general election.  It's worked in the past, and it may work in the present and the future.

But COME ON you folks in the RNC ad dept.!  This is the best you can do in this swing state?

We took in two of this weekend's inter-league games vs. the Baltimore Orioles (Sat. & Sun. 6/21-6/22).  Both games were Brewers wins (always fun - for Crew fans!), enough dingers to get the crowd ramped up (in case you haven't heard, Prince Fielder has still got it!), and enough sticky situations (Crew pitching - don't get me started...) to keep the hardcore baseball fans interested.  Two sellouts in a row, two great days of tailgating weather, and two straight giveaways (thanks to those who took their time coming in on Saturday - both the missus and I got a cap).  I also had a personal first on Saturday in seeing the roof start as closed, then open up, then get closed again.

While this will not be news to those of you who have been to Miller Park on a regular basis, Saturday evening games during the summer (especially with nice weather on game day) tend to produce a "more lubricated" crowd than normal.  Sunday afternoon games tend to be more family-friendly, though not always depending on where you sit (I do love affordable bleacher seats, but no way will I seat the family there for a weekend game.  Your results may differ).  We went Loge Diamond this weekend and we had GREAT "seat neighbors" for both games, so the game experience was that much better.

Saturday evening was special from our fan perspective.  A gentleman seated in front of us (in full O's regalia) turned around during the 2nd inning to ask me what Seth McClung's W-L record was (I answered correctly, 4-3 going into that game).  Then an elder gentleman seated to his right struck up a conversation with him about the O's vs. the Crew, and baseball in general, which lasted the entire game.  Great insights by both fans.  The O's fan pointed out to all of us Hall Of Fame pitcher and O's broadcaster Jim Palmer in the visiting broadcast booth (the O's fan already knew where Mr. Baseball was).

All in all, a great Brewers weekend.

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On other summer topics, Ted Klumb has a great post about "gentlemen of a certain age" (and then some) who should do us all a favor and COVER IT UP!

(What had started as a short observation has kept getting longer, so I'm going to break this up into two parts.  Part two will be posted within the next few weeks.)

Not quite breaking news any more, but former Bush Administration Press Secretary Scott McClellan has written a book (What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception) that has been reported to be critical of the Bush Administration, including the run-up to the invasion of Iraq.  I haven't read the book yet, so I can't comment on the content.  But I do have enough horse sense to know that the most inflammatory quotes, especially if and/or when taken out of context, tend to make the headlines.

One thing I did find peculiar though was the Bush administration's response.  According to them, McClellan is, essentially, a disgruntled ex-employee.

As I was watching and reading some of the media coverage on this, I remembered something like this happening before...

Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror--What Really Happened by former National Security Council Advisor Richard Clarke came out in 2004.  It was critical of the Bush and Clinton Administration's handling of anti-terrorism, and was also critical of the 2003 invasion of Iraq as not really aiding the war on terror.  Clarke had served in varying capacities from the Reagan administration onwards, and began his government career with the Department of Defense in 1973.  While I don't recall any Bush Administration officials stating it directly at the time, the refrain I heard on talk radio and Fox News was that Clarke was, essentially, a disgruntled ex-employee.

Earlier in 2004, The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the education of Paul O'Neill by Ron Suskind was released.  The book was based on extensive interviews with the Bush Administration's first Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill, as well as review of essentially every unclassified document that crossed Secretary O'Neill's desk during his tenure in office.  O'Neill took issue with the overall management of the Administration's first two years, as well as the Administration's policy on Iraq (note that this was pre-invasion, as Secretary O'Neill resigned effective 12/31/02).  While O'Neill also has deep roots in government (serving under President's Nixon and Ford, and passing on being Secretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush while recommending Dick Cheney for the job), he also has a long and successful track record as a corporate executive.  Again, while I don't recall any Bush Administration officials stating it directly, I remember the frequent talking point of commentators on talk radio and FNC at the time was that O'Neill was, essentially, a disgruntled ex-employee.

I read both the Suskind and Clarke books within a few months of their respective releases (thanks to the Menomonee Falls Public Library for making them available!).  I heartily recommend the Suskind book as it's a broader view of the management of the Bush Administration's first two years, and especially for Secretary O'Neill's views on fiscal policy (now THERE is a fiscal conservative and realist!).  The Clarke book is a pretty good read though the issue focus is narrower, and his writing seems to be self-serving at times.

Anyway, points to ponder: (1) Does releasing a political book in a hotly contested election year help sales?  (2) If said book has content critical of the invasion of Iraq in retrospect, is it truly newsworthy?  (3) Can all three of these men be, essentially, disgruntled ex-employees?

Anyone else notice the 30-ish degree drop in temperature Memorial Day evening?  We went from, what, upper 70's/low 80's and humid to March-like weather in about 30 minutes?  I guess this must be that "global warming" thing that a certain former Vice-President (who claims to have invented the internets) says could doom us all.

Last night (5/27) after the Brewers game (great ending btw!  GO CREW!), as I waited for the shuttle back to my favorite Miller Park area watering hole while FREEZING MY TAIL OFF, I had some time to think about this whole "global warming" canard.

So all of you "scientific method", measurable/quantifiable "fact" folks, how can we have "global warming" when it's in the 40's at the end of May in Southern Wisconsin?

Go ahead and spin it anyway you want.  So it's not "global warming", it's "climate change"?  And I guess then that you're not "liberal", you're "progressive"?

Whoever is running your marketing department, tell them this guy says they've made NO SALE!

For those that haven't yet been to the Milwaukee Public Museum to see the Body Worlds exhibit, it ends on June 1st.  The MPM will be running 'round the clock entries over the last few days. "The museum will be open for 63 hours straight - from 9 a.m. [Friday] May 30 to midnight June 1, said museum spokeswoman Mary Bridges." - http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=750429

Can't you just imagine the family-friendly atmosphere of a downtown Milwaukee attraction that's open past bar-time (and then some) over a weekend?

Anyway, if you've been meaning to see Body Worlds and also take the kiddos along (I have some thoughts on that, see below) go during the daytime hours (weekdays recommended) and pony up for parking in a secure lot.  Safety first!

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Here are my candid observations on the Body Worlds exhibit.  I'll warn you now; some of my observations (as well as the exhibits themselves) are not for the squeamish.

The Good:  Lots of organs in display cases, including normal, diseased, and REALLY diseased organs.  These are great for making a point to the kids about why you shouldn't do certain things.  In my opinion, the two best examples are the lungs and the livers.  They clearly label these organs with which ones are the healthy examples, and what it took to get to the diseased and REALLY diseased states.  And as for the visual juxtaposition of healthy vs. diseased organs?  Subtle as a sledgehammer!  (The missus did have a field day at the liver display though, using me as an example of the "fatty liver".  Dearest, you knew what you were getting from me since the time we met.  But point well taken.  And yes, I still love you!).  Also the crowd (and it was a crowd!) on the day we went was pretty well behaved and non-pushy.  The museum staff seemed nice as well.

A personal aside - the line for Body Worlds starts near the Plains Indian exhibit, and the Plains Indian exhibit still has the semi-hidden push-button to make the rattlesnake's tail rattle.  (I have a story about that from a field trip back when I was in the 2nd grade, but I'll save that for another blog).

The Bad:  While all of the bodies (and parts) were donated by the now-deceased people during their living years, there were some full-body examples that really scream desecration.  I have a real problem with that.  There was one in particular (I think it was subtitled "The Phoenix") where they had a woman's blood vessels coming out of her hands in the shape of birds.  That is wrong on SO many levels.  And as for the other full-body examples where they had people in athletic poses: if you knew they'd be doing that to your body after you've died (and I doubt the people who donated their bodies were informed of how they ultimately would be used), would you allow it?  I don't think so.

The Ugly:  The unborn children in differing stages of development.  And the worst of all, a pregnant woman who died before she gave birth - with baby fully exposed.  (Yes, there is a placard stating that the woman knew that she would die before delivering her child into this world and that she voluntarily donated her body and that of her unborn child's for the exhibit).  While this section is shielded from the main exhibit, take my advice and heed the posted signs about the "potential" offensiveness of this area.  There are things there that no Christian needs to see.

Family UN-friendly warning:  Since they are dealing in desecrated corpses of real people, all full-body exhibits are "anatomically correct".  While you may be able to steer the kiddos away from the display cases of things they shouldn't see until their wedding night, if you go be prepared to shield their eyes constantly from the full-body exhibits.

In conclusion, get this exhibit Alberta bound a.s.a.p.!  (And if you travel to Edmonton to see it, make sure to get a picture next to the Wayne Gretzky statue outside of Rexall Place where the NHL Edmonton Oilers play.  That's one memory you won't want to erase.)