Barry Alvarez Has His Giant Ego Fed Once Again

As though University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez needed yet another stroke to his ego, he got one this week when it was announced he would join the College Football Hall of Fame. Alvarez said he broke down and cried when he heard the news and that current Badger football head coach Bret Bielema broke down and cried with him, an image that makes me laugh. Since it's clear Alvarez needs constant reminders of his accomplishments, what other Halls of Fame can we make him a member of? Also, check out the propaganda on UWBadgers.com. Fidel Castro wouldn't have such an egomaniacal video tribute made of him.

Ron Johnson Indicative Of Republicans' Desperation

It seems Ron Johnson is the Republicans' choice to challenge Russ Feingold for one reason and one reason only: he is a plastic millionaire who has enough money to rise from nowhere to a Senate seat. While right-wingers will make a big deal of Senator Feingold being a "career politician" and claim it's time to elect a businessman like Johnson, we know that's disingenuous by the way they're voting in other elections. Republicans who know nothing of this man's political views are already throwing their support behind him, because he's rich and that's what their party is telling them to do. Our incumbent, however, is the most independent Senator in the nation, who has stood by his principles regardless of what his party is doing.

Dane County Threatening To Sieze Octogenarian's Home

Longtime town of Oregon resident Sally Franz tells us why Dane County is threatening to remove her from her home at the age of 82. When the county mistakenly overcharged her and other Oregon residents in 2006, she refused to take out a loan to pay the extra money. But the county says it doesn't have to correct the mistake the year it's made and residents are obligated to pay the bill they're given. It's understandable that Dane County needs all the money it's owed during these tough economic times, but threatening to throw an old lady out of her house over a few hundred bucks?? My listeners and I will pay the tab if it really gets to that point.

Bill O'Reilly Shows His True Colors

On an episode of his show on FOX News Channel, Bill O'Reilly told his guest, Columbia professor Marc Lamont Hill, that he looked like a cocaine dealer. Hill has no piercings or tattoos and was professionally dressed in a suit. He's articulate and intelligent. So why does he look to O'Reilly like a drug dealer? If Hill were white, would O'Reilly have come to the same conclusion?

School Bus Driver Puts Bigoted Girl In Her Place

A Carmel, Indiana, school bus driver, who's notorious for preaching tolerance, got a little fed up with one girl's incessant hateful comments. She apparently was running her mouth about gay people and non-Christians going to Hell, among other things. So the driver scolded her and it was all caught on video. Now the girl's father, a typical right-winger who normally whines about frivolous lawsuits, want to sue because the school didn't fire the driver. Is this really about a child being traumatized by a school employee? Or are this girl's parents just embarrassed that their child got caught spewing the crap they feed her?

BP Boycotts In Full Swing; Bring Back Standard Oil!

In the wake of the largest oil spill ever and more damning revelations coming out each day, consumers are starting to boycott BP. I'm not necessarily advocating it, but I haven't used my BP card since news of this broke. With other gas stations to choose from, there's really no reason not to avoid BP and make them hurt a bit for their negligence. Not to mention, BP bought Amoco! Standard Oil! An American company! Has the oil spill changed your opinion enough to boycott BP?

Republicans Outraged At Obama's Memorial Day Plans

Republican talk show hosts are outraged that President Obama won't be visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier this Memorial Day. Know where he'll be instead? At a Veterans' Day event in Chicago, where he's visiting family this weekend. These right-wing nutjobs love to twist something like this into evidence that Obama doesn't care about our military, when they KNOW that's not true. By the way, these Republicans' heroes, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, also missed Memorial Day visits to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Obama and his wife have done more for our veterans already than Dubya did in eight years.

Neighborhood Kid Throws A Rock At My Car

I was already having a bad day yesterday, having timed my travels so perfectly that I got stuck in both Milwaukee AND Madison rush-hour traffic. But it didn't get any better when a kid threw a rock at my car and hit my windshield. I tried to double back and find the little brat so I could give him the punishment he clearly needs, but no luck. What should I do to this punk if I ever find him? Have you had a similar experience with kids blatantly disrespecting you like this?

Ron Johnson Saga Continues

The spin continues from the Ron Johnson campaign. Even as reports circulate that Terrence Wall is withdrawing from the Senate race this week, Johnson's people are still defending the way he took down one of Wall's signs for a media appearance. Now they're claiming TV stations recommended the sign be removed, just a day after blaming the "Democrat party" for distorting what actually happened. Taking down a candidate's sign is disrespectful and, frankly, un-American. The Oshkosh plastic millionaire, who was inspired to run by FOX News' Dick Morris, thinks people are making too big a deal about this. Wouldn't HE make a big deal of it if another candidate took down his sign??

'Ride The Drive' Gets Another Day To Inconvenience People

It's bad enough the city of Madison needed to take a day every year and inconvenience everyone downtown with its asinine 'Ride the Drive' day, when bicyclists get the streets to themselves and cars aren't allowed on the roads. Now, because the program's been so "successful," Mayor Dave has announced a SECOND 'Ride the Drive' day will be held over Labor Day weekend. The Mayor says the day is so citizens can see Madison in a different way. But the message the city is sending with things like this and the new red 'bikes only' boxes at intersections is clear - they want everyone to bike to work and pretty much bike everywhere. I don't doubt that there are people who enjoy 'Ride the Drive,' but I think there are a lot more people who hate it and resent the way the city tries to tell us how to live our lives.

Spitting Victims Taking Months Off To "Recover"

I generally take the side of workers' unions in disputes and have even been called a "union whore." But a bus drivers' union in New York has gone too far. They found a contractual loophole that provides for months of paid leave for drivers who are victims of an assault. Apparently being spit on is a form of assault, and many of the 51 NYC bus drivers who were spit on last year exercised their right to an average of 64 days' vacation time. While their contract should have been more airtight to prevent this, it's pretty sickening that these drivers would actually exploit taxpayers by taking advantage of this. Doesn't anyone like to go to work? Wouldn't you feel guilty not doing your job for two months?

Public Interest Group Wants You To Stop Going To Restaurants

The Center for Science of the Public Interest is going to great lengths to point out the unhealthiest foods that are served at chain restaurants in an effort to shock you. It's not news to anyone that going out to eat can be an indulgent experience. These extravagant entrees and fast food options won't kill those who consume them in moderation. Would these restaurants really stay in business if they DIDN'T offer such tasty food?

Johnson Takes Down Wall's Sign - And Blames Democrats

We finally got the spin we were waiting for from Republican Senatorial candidate Ron Johnson. After being caught on camera tearing down one of opponent Terrence Wall's signs - along with several others - Johnson's spokesman accused the "Democrat party" of trying to distort reality. He says the sign was temporarily removed for TV interviews. What's wrong with this logic?

Nino Amato - Coalition Of Wisconsin Aging Groups

Nino Amato with the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups joins us to talk about the importance of prescription drug reform. Drug companies spend millions every year disseminating biased information about what they sell to consumers and often bribe doctors into prescribing their drugs. It's time for Wisconsin to follow the lead of other states and implement REAL prescription drug reform.

Cell Phone Users Under Attack

More and more states - and cities like Chicago - aren't just banning texting while driving; they're banning the use of cell phones on the road altogether. They're even ticketing drivers who pull over to use their phones because they say it's a hazard to be talking on the shoulder. With so many other types of distracted driving going on - eating, putting on makeup, shaving, reading the paper - are cell phones being unfairly targeted? Will banning cell phones really eliminate distracted driving?

Texas Rewriting History

The Texas of Board of Education is rewriting history, now without the supposed liberal bias. The new curriculum will place a strong emphasis on the moral majority, the NRA, will put Jefferson Davis up there with Lincoln and would change the term slave trade to "Atlantic Triangular Trade". This board obviously has a conservative slant, but what will they say about the Bush years.

Joe thinks history will look fondly on Bush.

Wisconsin Republican's Campaign Platform: STOP EVERYTHING!

It seems that all Wisconsin Republicans want to do is stop things. Stop the train, stop health care, they just want another eight years of Bush. Will this strategy work?

Miles Kristan Battle With The Milwaukee Police Continues

Mile Kristan was arrested months ago for causing a "disturbance" at a rally where Jeb Bush was speaking and its been an ongoing battle with the Milwaukee Police department to get his video equipment back and to fight these frivolous charges.

Mr Johnson, Tear Down This Wall (sign)

Millionaire Republican Senate candidate Ron Johnson was caught on video tearing down his opponents campaign sign. How do you spin that one?

Oil Spill Bad For Obama

President Obama looks feckless on this crisis in the gulf and it's not even really his fault. We all must share some of the blame, because we all use oil. Eight years of deregulation and corporate giveaways during the Bush years didn't help either but President Obama might end up walking away with the blame.

Islamic Multicultural Center Too Close To Ground Zero

The outcry over the "mosque at ground zero" (its actually a learning center two blocks away) goes against the very freedom that was threatened on 9/11. You hear Republicans talk about freedom incessantly yet they have no problem denying first amendment rights to innocent Muslims that are trying to bridge the culture gap.

James T. Harris

We talk to my favorite Milwaukee talk radio host James T. Harris, who was my inside man at the Wisconsin Republican convention. We hear about what transpired there and get Harris' take on Walker, Neumann, Johnson, and even the oil spill.

Paul Calls Obama's Criticism Of BP "Unamerican"

Rand Paul, on Good Morning America, defended British Petroleum and ridiculed Obama for condemning their lackluster response to the crisis in the Gulf. Paul is exposing a hidden truth behind the teabagger movement. They talk a good game about "personal responsibility" but when it comes the mistakes of multinational corporations they believe a socialized response is appropriate.

The teabaggers are a fake populist movement that truly believe that corporations should have no rules. The oil spill is a symptom of eight years of corporations writing their own laws.