Wag the Dog - All Comments

re: Always Entertaining - The Annual Meeting of the Electors

Kevin Fischer — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:23:06 GMT

They also can be found piled in a stack in a back corner at Everything's a Dollar.

re: Always Entertaining - The Annual Meeting of the Electors

Bryan Maersch — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:44:12 GMT

And the winners of the "I can read from a queue card" were former School Board Directors Sue Huhn and Rosanne Lewandowski. Planning Commissioner and frequent School Board meeting attendee Randy Ritter was also one of the lucky chosen card readers.

Mr. Gravelle,

Saw your calendar on The Discount Calendar Network, (that would be channel 00 on cable or channel 22b on your new digital TV tuner). Interesting that Kevin was the person that was hawking it, I believe his memorable quote was that "There are only 538,000 of these left so call right now".

re: Always Entertaining - The Annual Meeting of the Electors

jgravelle — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:28:16 GMT

I appreciate the correction "Bryan". Thanks.

I should explain though: Each month of my calendar is adorned with a different provocative boudoir photography portrait of me, making it difficult to focus on specific dates.

I'll send you one, and you can see for yourself...

-jjg

DailyScoff.com

(They're $12.95 plus shipping)

re: Always Entertaining - The Annual Meeting of the Electors

Kevin Fischer — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:10:48 GMT

Couldn't have described it better myself

re: What will Franklin do without Ted Gringes?

fvkeller — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:54:05 GMT

I have a hard time wrapping my head around Steve’s inference that the 27SSC – particularly on the Franklin side of the equation – isn’t or wasn’t “political.”

His comment that the 27SSC has no budget and no authority other than to recommend policy and actions to the two Common Councils -- while technically true -- is preposterous and requires a "willing suspension of disbelief,"

I don’t have a degree from Harvard or any other college for that matter, but that doesn’t make me a moron, and I don’t need a calculator to add this up:

James Rhiner, treasurer of defunked Franklin Citizens for Responsible Leadership (the POLITICAL Action Committee that helped defeat four of six sitting aldermen a couple of years ago) + Ted Grintjes, affiliated with defunked PAC Franklin Citizens for Responsible Leadership (who like Rhiner, sits/sat on three key Franklin development committees) + “Current city officials affiliated with the [FCRL] at one time or another including Mayor Tom Taylor, Ald. Steve Olson.”

And isn’t/wasn’t Rhiner and Grintjes on the CDA along with you and the Mayor?

And why do Mayors Taylor and Bolender need a mediator?

Footnotes: www.jsonline.com/.../index.aspx www.jsonline.com/.../index.aspx

re: What will Franklin do without Ted Gringes?

Advocating Mom — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:11:02 GMT

I disagree with you Bryan, that the 27th street steering committee should consist of more elected officials. Many in our community have criticized local government for being to opaque and not allowing/promoting more active citizen involvement. This is a perfect opportunity for more citizens to become involved in the development process. If the Mayor of our City sits on this committee it should be in an ex officio capacity only with no voting privileges. As Steve O pointed out, this is a working advisory committee that does not have the ability to set policy without recommendation and approval from the commissions and Common Council. The accountability already rests squarely on the Common Council.

I do agree, however, that it would be desirable to have more citizen representation from the 3rd and 4th districts on the steering committee.

Who would you suggest as possible candidates to sit on this committee? Do you know of anyone who has the business experience and financial savvy necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the 27ssc? Do you know someone who also has the time to give freely to developing the relationships and networking with existing property owners on 27th street as well as with potential developers?

I would argue that chairing the 27thssc is a full-time job for which most people have neither the ways nor the means to do it for free.

I urge anyone who has these qualifications to contact the mayor and ask to be put on this committee. The line forms to the left......

re: What will Franklin do without Ted Gringes?

fvkeller — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:56:21 GMT

Excellent post, you sure hit the nail on the head, Bryan. I couldn’t agree with you, Kevin (October 16, 2007), and John Michlig more on Grintjes and Rhiner.

If Mayor Taylor should sit on any committee, he should sit on JS27SSC.

And as far as “new blood” is concerned, it’s inexcusable to me that District 3 or 4 have no representation on this committee; the 27th street corridor runs through both Districts.

re: What will Franklin do without Ted Gringes?

Steve O — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:15:45 GMT

Bryan, for the record only the Community Development Authority has a budget and authority to spend it, and in the CDA's particular case, that authority is limited.

The 27th St. Steering Committee had no budget and no authority other than to recommend policy and actions to the two Common Councils. This Committee is a working committee. They need to work and accomplish a staggering list of tasks. So when you ask for new blood, be careful of that request because there is little time to get new blood up to speed. The DOT isn't waiting, developers aren't waiting.

And if the committee becomes "political" then who will be the mediator/match maker/shuttle diplomat? Who will mediate with the Mayors? Who will have the time and skill to meet with the Aldermen from each community to discuss the issues on an individual basis and do it with authority (of knowledge), skill and diplomacy?

Remember that there is at LEAST $2 billion (with a capital B) in development planned and the train has left the station.

Playing catch-up will be very, very difficult.

re: A Great Image for Franklin

Unfettered Candor — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:49:58 GMT

This is the second tragedy that originated in a Franklin bar since the negligent homicide on Dec. 25, 2008 by a drunken driver that was served after he was witnessed as being drunk at the Buckhorn Tavern.

This case must be languishing somewhere and, by all appearances, Buckhorn will never have their liquor license revoked. I hope that I am wrong.

I will not be surprised if the bar where the murder took place will be afforded the same courtesy.

Something is radically wrong when the establishments that earn themselves bad reputations or serve drunks are permitted to remain licensed by laws that are abject failures.

Then again, whom do lawmakers have in mind when they make laws that are relevant to tavern keepers?

The Tavern League will seek out the bottom feeding legislators that will take contributions to vote for laws that have no concern for the protection of a community and their residents. That will never end.

That leaves only the bottom feeders in our State and local communities who sell themselves out that are really the people to blame.

On the other hand, you have the same amount of unconscionable negligence with enforcement. Case in point:

“It’s against the law to serve someone you know to be intoxicated. . . but I don’t know of it ever being enforced,” said attorney Nina J. Emerson, who heads the Resource Center on Impaired Driving at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

accident tornado siren

accident tornado siren — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:57:14 GMT

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The Morni...er, Afternoon Scramble - 7/2/2008

steveegg — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:52:55 GMT

I warned you today would be a recovery day. It’s a good thing too, because Mary came across the reason why I’m no longer featuring Summerfest acts; they pulled the US Army display. Wyatt Earp remembers that it was this day...

No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » The Morni…er, Afternoon Scramble - 7/2/2008

No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » The Morni…er, Afternoon Scramble - 7/2/2008 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:49:44 GMT

Pingback from No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » The Morni…er, Afternoon Scramble - 7/2/2008

re: Give Me a Piece of This Action.

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:25:13 GMT

And because the MATC Board is an un-elected board, the voters have no recourse. We can't do a thing about this.

re: It's Dangerous for Bloggers out there! - Updated

ddorsan — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:49:46 GMT

The best way to protect free speech is to continue to speak freely!

Greg you have done great good for this city. We need more voices like

yours not fewer. Stay on the NOW blog site and keep us informed.

re: It's Dangerous for Bloggers out there! - Updated

Greg Kowalski — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:32:00 GMT

Bryan,

Thanks for the update; it's much appreciated.

As for secret police and PC confiscations, I'm pleased to say nothing of the sort has happened. However, I'm sure if some elected officials had their way my free speech would be severely limited.

re: It's Dangerous for Bloggers out there!

Unfettered Candor — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:03:32 GMT

BRYAN: I liked your topic and your encouragement for GREG.

Blogging and speaking your mind is just another benefit of living in the great old U.S. of A. That right has been preserved thoughout time by the sacrifice of others and loss of life. We don’t have to wait for another Memorial Day to talk about that. Thanks for reminding us of the privilege other countries do not enjoy.

With this in mind, I would ask Greg Kowalski to reconsider his thoughts of leaving the blog site. Please continue to exercise that wonderful freedom that allows you, and others who comment, to stimulate our thinking, leave our apathy behind, and replace it with confrontation.

I would say that to all bloggers. We need to discover what people are yearning for in government and in society. This is also an avenue that should guide the actions of politicians.

All bloggers have stirred the emotions and awakened the realization that it is only those who get involved and speak out that can bring about change.

So, Greg, stay with the group and keep us thinking and acting. We will appreciate it.

=================

In this new cyber age we all have the opportunity to air our concerns. This is what America is all about. I am sure that this new technology has caused angst for many politicians. Some have even pressed for laws that would prevent anonymity in connection with blogging.

Apollo makes a good point too. The operative words are: SEPARATE & BALANCE. Get enough from both corners and follow the dictates of your conscience. I say conscience because that inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives impels one toward right action.

Then again, I guess it all depends what influences your conscience.

re: It's Dangerous for Bloggers out there!

Apollo — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:27:15 GMT

Bryan,

I agree with you. My worries are always that people who watch the news, read the papers, read the blogs etc. do not take the time to look at differing opinions and alternate sources to come to their own conclusion. Some people mindlessly just accept the fact that if someone says it or writes it, well then it must be true. I just hope that people digest as much information on a subject as possible to come to their own conclusions.

As a note; I am disappointed in Steve Taylor's lack of good judgement (my opinion).

re: It's Dangerous for Bloggers out there!

Greg Kowalski — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:45:01 GMT

Thanks Bryan for the kind words.

You'll have an answer as to whether I'm staying or going tomorrow morning. I think that would be fair for my readers instead of keeping them in infinite limbo.

re: It's Dangerous for Bloggers out there!

Bryan Maersch — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:12:51 GMT

Apollo

I would guess bloggers are guilty of the same thing "so called" credentialed professional journalists are accused of. Trying to get information and opinion out in a timely fashion so that it means something.

Lets not forget Dan Rather (CBS News) and why he was forced to retire over the bogus Bush story. Even journalistic pillars of society like the New York Times is accused of fraudulently presenting the news.

Most FranklinNOW blogs are the views of common Franklin citizens who often attend the city and school system meetings to give there perception of what they see.

A good example of this is last nights common council meeting at which Alderman Steve Taylor disappointed his constituents and they are writing about it.

re: It's Dangerous for Bloggers out there!

Apollo — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:09:10 GMT

Here's the problem I have with blogs, they go way past regular citizens commenting on a subject. Bloggers should find a topic they wish to discuss and comment on it....that's it. Too many people write their blogs on various subjects with very little supporting data. They site one or maybe two sources; however, this is far from writing a true thesis on a topic. People "could" easily start to believe nonsense based on the lack of numerous supporting materials to back an opinion. This is still seen repeatedly on various blogs still today.