2010 Death Pool!!

Who will the Lord call home this year?

Winners & Losers of 2010

I'm taking your pick for the winner and loser of 2010. It's a shame that our country is in the latter category.

2010 Pundit Panel

Producer Dylan Brogan, former Senate candidate Dave Westlake, and I talk about the big changes that were crammed down our throat in 2010. When I'm the voice of moderation, you know there's trouble afoot.

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton

I speak to outgoing Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton about her tenure as one of the State's most influential Lt. Governors. I ask Lawton what she thinks is her greatest accomplishment and she responses to the media hungry State Senator Glenn Grothman's call to end 4 year old kindergarten.

Volunteer & Donate To St. Vincent de Paul

Ralph Middlecamp from St. Vincent de Paul joins me to talk about what you can do to help your neighbors in need. Whether it's volunteering, shopping at their thrift store or donating food, blankets, or clothing, there is a lot you can do to help St. Vincent de Paul.

St. Vincent de Paul
608.442-7200
www.svdpmadison.org

American Corporations Are Undermining America

Wall Street is back on top, huge American corporations are making a record breaking profits, and yet unemployment is at a standstill. The recession may have started two years ago but this has been in the works for the better part of three decades. We have become a worldwide embarrassment as a once powerful country that now only has jobs at Wal-Mart.

Not only do huge corporations get tax cuts for outsourcing jobs but their CEOs get multimillion dollar bonuses for doing it (thank god we still have the tax cuts for the rich). China didn't steal our jobs, our government and huge corporations gave them away!

Glenn Grothman: Axe 4 Year Old Kindergarten

State Senator Glenn Grothman from West Bend give his reasons for axing four year old kindergarten from Wisconsin schools. I also ask Grothman if Wisconsin will be a right to work state before this time next year.

What To Do With Bad Gifts

An inevitable part of the holidays is receiving gifts that you just hate. I throw them right in the trash, what do you do with your bad Christmas presents?

The Truth Doesn't Matter

The new governor of Hawaii has made it his mission to put an end to the rumors that President Obama was not born in his State and therefore not an American citizen. I think this is an exercise in futility, you could tattoo Obama's birth certificate to his forehead and these birthers would still have doubts. Once Governor Abercrombie puts even more evidence out that President Obama is an American, what are the birthers going to counter with?

Bus Cuss

The Milwaukee County Sheriff has put out an edict to fine bus patrons who swear. One man was ticketed not for swearing at someone or causing a scene but for saying a bad word while conversing with a friend. Is Milwaukee not in America anymore?

Permission to Pledge

A Massachusetts school is sending home permission slips for kids to recite the pledge of alliance. Do you really need parental intervention to teach kids to be proud of their country?

Madison Driving Songs

We come up with the best Madison driving songs. For some reason I don't think Highway to Hell will be on the list.

A Better Name For Christmas

If you went by a poll in the Wisconsin State Journal, the birth of Jesus is the reason to celebrate Christmas for only 1/3 of those that partake in the holiday. If only a third care about the religious significance of the day, seems like CHRISTmas is not the most fitting name. What should we call the federal holiday former known as Christmas?

Our Millionaire Senators

Wisconsin has had a long history of electing influential, inspiring politicians but (at least for the next two years) we'll have two millionaires who like to hide in the shadows representing us in the Senate. Johnson brags in the Oshkosh Northwestern, that he knew he was going to win because he bought the best campaign staff money could buy. The only thing that made Ron Johnson a successful Republican candidate was his willingness to say whatever his staff told him and of course his wallet. I can not support Herb Kohl with any credibility because that's precisely the way he gets elected over and over again. We need a Senator that doesn't just buy his seat and keep it warm for six years!

A Senate Without Feingold - Winona Daily News (State Journal)

Newsmaker of the Year: Ron Johnson - Oshkosh Northwestern

Christmas Gifts For Politicans

It's that time a year again. Let's give some tongue and cheek gifts to our favorite (or most despised) politicians.

Joe Wineke For Dane County Executive

Long time friend of labor and former State Senator Joe Wineke joins me to talk about why he's running for Dane County Executive. The entire elected State government is gunning for Dane County and we need an experienced fighter like Joe to stop the onslaught.

joewineke.com

Jeff Mayers - Wispolitics

Jeff Mayers of Wispolitics joins me to talk about our ghost Senator Ron Johnson, how Republicans are going to carve themselves up some great districts, and Herb Kohl's plans for 2012.

wispolitics.com

Democracy Alive And Live In Madison

We are lucky to live in a City where our mayoral options are so rich. With Soglin in the race I am needless to say conflicted about who to support for mayor. How are you feeling?

Bryan Kennedy - President Of AFT Wisconsin

Bryan Kennedy helps represent the professional public employees for Wisconsin and he's on the live line to correct the mountain of misinformation and outright lies being peddled by State Republicans including Gov-elect Scott Walker. Privatizing public services does not save the State money, it simply shifts money from middle-class workers to corporate executives. Do you think union members should be paid less?

Governor Baldy Headed To Pasadena

Milwaukee talk radio host Charlie Sykes is attacking Governor Baldy for attending the Rose Bowl this year. Now I'm not the biggest Doyle fan but Sykes decided that he would conflate the expense of sending Governor Doyle to Pasadena with sending the entire UW delegation (which includes the band, players, and coaches). There is plenty of valid reasons to criticize Governor Doyle but attending the Rose Bowl Charlie, just isn't one of them.

Why People Hate Madison

A UW Poli Sci researcher went on a rural tour of the badger state to learn why many Wisconsinites HATE Madison. She found that people think Madison is selfish, lazy, and funnels all the money to itself and Milwaukee. Isn't it ironic that Madison consistently votes for politicians that support policies that help middle-class people and that the rest of the Wisconsin votes for corporate slubs (like Ron Johnson) who want to cut services to give tax cuts to huge corporations and millionaires. Madison may be easy to poke fun at but its also a convenient scapegoat for Republicans.

Christmas Is A Naughty Word

I heard NPR's Nina Totenberg apologize on TV because she dared to utter the phrase "Christmas party". This is taking political correctness to a new level. No one should have to apologize for saying the word Christmas. Please make sure to pray for my godless producer Dylan this holiday season!

Most Annoying Tea Party Words Of 2010

The CBC did a poll of the most annoying words of 2010 and that gave me an idea. What are the most annoying Tea Party phrases of the year? If I don't get any callers, I'll just play a call from CJ.

Canada's Fur Controversy

Member of the Canadian parliament (and the former Prime minister's son) Justin Trudeau, sent out the Christmas card above which features his entire family donned in coyote fur coats. This got the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals all riled up. Ashley Byrne from PETA is on the live line to tell me why 400 years of Canadian history is violent and cruel.

John Nichols - Back From The Future

Photo: Tom Kelly - Cap Times

John Nichols joins me to talk about the 1973... err i mean the 2011 mayoral and Dane County Executive races. Latest news is that Paul Soglin has entered the race, which Nichols says is a good bellwether for Madison's vibrant democracy.

Are Smart Drugs Cheating?

Adderall and other smart drugs are apparently quite popular with college kids these days. Kids take the uppers in order to stay up all night to studying. Edgewood College has declared the use of smart drugs as cheating and is taking measures to stop its use on their campus. While I won't condone the abuse of prescription drugs, these kids are just trying to get good grades. Is taking adderall really the equivalent of steroid use among athletes?