2002: The Year in Review

2002: The Year In Review

by Tony Palmeri

Note: Below is a summary of key events of 2002 mostly at the local and state level, but also including some key national and international events. I wrote it mostly out of disgust with "year in review" tripe found in the mainstream print and electronic media. -Tony P.

January	February	March	April	May	June
July	August	September	October	November	December

January 2002:

Winnebago County District 20 Supervisor Mike Norton on January 28th held a forum at the Coughlin Building on the topic of Governor McCallum's plan to end the state's shared revenue program. The event was attended by scores of local government officials. Representative Gregg Underheim participated in the event, but not before complaining about Tony Palmeri being asked to serve as moderator. Meanwhile, the County Executives of Brown, Outagamie, and Winnebago County sent McCallum a letter expressing their concerns. Dan Rylance wrote about local responses to McCallum for the Commentary website.
On January 6, 2002 the San Francisco Chronicle published an important editorial critiquing Attorney General John Ashcroft's assault on the Freedom of Information Act.
During the congressional debate in the federal "Freedom to Farm" legislation, the Environmental Working Group produced a summary of where farm subsidies are spread throughout the nation. Commentary summarized the data for Winnebago County. Responses to the piece came from Jim Lemmer and Harmon Seaver, as well as professor Fred Kirschenmann.
Tony Palmeri wrote about the 11 worst Fox Valley corporations of 2002.

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February 2002:

The Oshkosh Northwestern in an editorial argued that school board member Teresa Thiel should resign. Commentary summarized the state statutes affecting the Thiel situation.
Oshkosh Public Library Director John V. Nichols wrote a memo to City Manager Richard Wollangk explaining what governor Scott McCallum's budget proposals would mean for library services.
On February 10, 2002 Madison's WISC-TV called for the resignation of Chuck Chvala and Scott Jensen from their leadership positions, a position taken by Tony Palmeri in October of 2001.
Representative DuWayne Johnsrud (R-Eastman) called Aurora Health Care the "new Wal-Mart of health care."
Green Party candidate for governor Jim Young answered 4 questions for Commentary.
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy released "An Economic, Social, Environmental, and Political Snapshot" of Outagamie, Waupaca, and Winnebago Counties.
Tony Palmeri wrote this op-ed on the Oshkosh West High School Indian logo controversy. The piece received these responses.
University of North Dakota Professor Emeritus of Economics Bob Korback had this to say about municipal debt in Oshkosh.
Joel Rogers wrote several op-eds for the Madison Capital Times that tried to bring some common sense to the discussions of the state's budget mess; he was especially insightful on budget myths and taxation and the need for politicians to say the "T" word.
The Wisconsin Counties Association released a "Fiscal Fairness Plan."
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign demonstrated that campaign donors were "undaunted by the 'terrorist economy.'"

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March 2002:

Oshkosh Common Councilor Melanie Bloechl received the "Little Spender" award from Commentary pundit Dan Rylance.
Jim Mather had an exchange with Representative Terri McCormick on the topic of concealed weapons.
The conservative Wisconsin State Journal editorialized in favor of ethanol production in the state.
Democratic candidate for governor Tom Barrett lunched with local officials.
Commentary interviewed the 4 school board candidates and summarized their views on key issues.
Mike Norton attended the National Association of Counties conference and wrote up a summary report.
The Wisconsin Assembly Republican caucus including Oshkosh Republican Gregg Underheim suggested charging fees at public libraries as a way of easing the state's budget crunch. Specifically, the Republicans sought to repeal Wisconsin Statute 43.52(2) that guarantees that public libraries, “Shall be free for the use of the inhabitants of the municipality by which it is established and maintained.” Wisconsin Library Association President Stephen Proces said that “Our representatives have truly lost touch with reality if they think that they can balance the state budget problems on the backs of Wisconsin citizens who use free public libraries . . . Now they want us to start charging for storytimes and for lending books? Repeal of the free public library statute could mean membership and entrance fees to use your local public library. What are they thinking?”
Dr. Friedhelm Ost, a member of the German Bundestag (Parliament) spoke on the UW Oshkosh campus and was interviewed by Tony Palmeri for Doug Freshner's "University" series.
Green Bay Public Television was faced with extinction, as described in this letter.
Neenah Mayor Ken Harwood satirized Scott McCallum's shared revenue plan to the tune of the Beatles' "Yesterday."

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April 2002:

Libertarian Ed Thompson and Green Jim Young appeared on Commentary.
The Madison Capital Times suggested that Chuck Chvala and Scott McCallum were "dumb and dumber."
Democratic candidate for governor Tom Barrett appeared on Commentary.
Tony Palmeri wrote about the Oshkosh Northwestern's "incorrect correction" and offered the paper some advice.
Professor Jania Aubakirova, an internationally acclaimed pianist and Director of the National Conservatory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, visited UW Oshkosh and was interviewed by Tony Palmeri as part of Doug Freshner's "University" program.
Democratic candidate for governor Jim Doyle appeared on Commentary.
The federal government unveiled a "government benefits website."
A study revealed the Wisconsin's 12th graders flunk personal finance.
Scott Klinger of United for a Fair Economy released "Titans of the Enron Economy: The 10 Habits of Highly Defective Corporations."
Tony Palmeri spoke at the Wisconsin Communication Association on the topic of "The Free Speech Rights of Students."
Maehville met Hintzville at the 13th annual Workers Memorial Day in Oshkosh.
Former President of the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education LuAnn Bird published a study on the topic of "Do Wisconsin's School Board Work?"
Governing.com's Alan Ehrenhalt argued that some Wisconsinites are just too uptight about political corruption.

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May 2002:

Democratic candidate for governor Kathleen Falk appeared on Commentary. The UW Oshkosh Advance-Titan covered Falk's visit.
Democratic Representative Gary Sherman criticized the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's "report card." The WDC produced this response.
WBAY-TV was one of the first news sources to break the scandal involving Winnebago County District Attorney Joe Paulus.
News about the extent to which taxpayers were footing the legal bills of elected officials was revealed to be worse than originally thought.
Commentary began to keep a "District Attorney Turmoil Archive" on its website. District Attorney Joe Paulus at the last minute canceled his scheduled interview with Commentary.
Commentary discovered that the Experimental Aircraft Association's "Sun and Fun" fly-in in Lakeland, Florida held in April featured management inflation of attendance figures similar to manner in which it is done at the annual Oshkosh fly-in. Tony Palmeri had a conversation today with Rick Rousos, a reporter for the Lakeland Ledger. Rick said that he and others have always been suspicious of the the Sun and Fun management attendance reports (always in the 600,000 range), but neither he nor anyone else has found a way to prove that they are inaccurate.
A New York Times feature on Wisconsin politics made us look, deservedly so, like a banana republic. The Times also did a feature on Ed Thompson.
In the "must reading" category, UW LaFollette Institute Andrew Reschovsky released a report on the nature of Wisconsin's structural deficit.
UW Oshkosh Political Scientist James Simmons discussed his book What Government Can Do on Commentary.
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy provided some census insights missing from mainstream media.
As we headed into Memorial Day, the Pentagon revealed that sailors were sprayed with nerve gas in a Cold War test.
FBI surveillance powers were expanded significantly.

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June 2002:

The Appleton Post-Crescent reported on Barbara Hoffman's peace mission to Iraq.
Mike Prokosch of United for Fair Economy and Steve Watrous of the Wisconsin Fair Trade Campaign provided Commentary viewers with a primer on globalization and "fast track."
A Washington Post article suggested that the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation if enacted may simply move the soft money power from political parties to political action committees.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign gave "Nero Awards" to those members of the state legislature who "fiddled while the dome burned." Every Fox Valley legislator except Senator Mike Ellis received an award.
In a shocking report, Common Cause Wisconsin revealed the extent of tobacco industry influence on the Wisconsin legislature.
Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin called on Chuck Chvala to resign.
Commentary made it to the Ed Thompson for Governor website. Meanwhile Commentary guest Chris Micklos derided Thompson as "the other boy from Elroy."
While the Oshkosh Northwestern was providing saturation coverage of a high school teacher's sexual exploitation of a minor, the Appleton Post-Crescent printed Connie Christensen's statement to officer Ann Gollner that resulted in Gollner approaching the FBI about District Attorney Joe Paulus. The Post-Crescent also printed the police report in the Christensen case.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on their 17-year effort to obtain documents regarding the FBI's infiltration of the University of California at Berkeley. Former UC President Clark Kerr called the Bureau's actions "despicable."
Pugsley Palmeri contemplated the race for Wisconsin governor.
Joel Kluessendorf revealed how the Square D corporation, which left Oshkosh flat in 2000, still found it within themselves before they left to support the wrecking of an Oshkosh neighborhood so as to benefit their business.
The Valley Scene published an outstanding cover story on urban sprawl.
Tony Palmeri released the satirical "TIF I were a rich man." The Oshkosh Northwestern engaged in McCarthyite redbaiting in their condemnation of TIF critics.
The Environmental Working Group produced a website allowing citizens to see where they fall on the nuclear waste route to Yucca Mountains.
The Oshkosh Northwestern editorial board trashed Board of Zoning Appeals member Cheryle Hentz because she voted against the interests of developer Ben Ganther. Hentz answered some questions for Commentary about the event.
Mike McCabe wrote about "connections and coincidences" in an important op-ed appearing throughout the state.
The New York Times accused the Federal Elections Commission of being involved in a "coup" to undermine the McCain-Feingold legislation.
The United States government finally admitted that Italian Antonio Meucci invented the telephone.
A late June Gallup poll asked whether big business had too much influence over the decisions made by Bush, Republicans, and Democrats in Congress. In all instances, over six in 10 Americans said "yes" -- 63% in the case of the Bush administration, 64% for Democrats in Congress, and 76% for the Republicans in Congress."
The Valley Soapbox debuted.

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July 2002:

Menasha's Jake Schneider was elected National Green Party Treasurer.
UW Oshkosh Professor of Education John Lemberger debuted "A Second Opinion."
State Senator Brian Burke's attorney called the felony charges against his client "gross overkill."
Scott McCallum, John Gard, and Chuck Chvala came up with a campaign finance reform package as part of the "budget repair" bill that was immediately pegged as a lie and a fraud by the Capital Times and Common Cause.
Commentary presented Fox Valley Reactions to the Budget Repair Bill.
The Cap Times' John Nichols wrote about the congressional "pledge hypocrites" for the Nation magazine.
Commentary was mentioned in a July 12 Oshkosh Northwestern story about the DA race.
Lee Baxandall asked the Oshkosh Northwestern for some solid EAA reporting.
Tony Palmeri wrote about the Democrats running for governor as "The 4 Sides of Bill Clinton."
Pugsley Palmeri called the Budget Repair bill "Christmas in July" for special interests.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign asked candidates to pledge a "clean sweep" of the capitol.
Commentary produced an online Politics 2002 Guide and Lance Link's Links.
Sean Fitzgerald and Ryan Buck debuted the new business publication Lake Winnebago B2B.
Professor David Bollier wrote an important essay for Boston Review called "Reclaiming the Commons." In it he wrote, "It's time to stop granting private entities free access to and use of public resources. Although this idea is conceptually simple, it presents a large political challenge. In case after case, this reckless privatization of public resources has resulted in demonstrable harm to taxpayers, consumers, and the environment. While these costs are well-documented, political resistance to meaningful reform continues in Washington, aggravated by our corrupt system of campaign financing. But press exposure and citizen mobilization can go a long way toward reclaiming the public assets that our government is mismanaging."

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August 2002:

The Valley Scene began publishing Tony Palmeri's Media Rants column.
Wisconsin Automated Machinery Corporation (WAMCO) screwed the city of Oshkosh with the help of the Oshkosh Common Council. Councilor Paul Esslinger answered some questions for Commentary about the deal.
A major artistic event, the Oshkosh 100, was held at the historic Wagner Building in downtown Oshkosh. Organizer Jim Evans composed a "Manifesto on Art in Oshkosh."
Populist filmmaker Michael Moore's mom Veronica passed away.
Commentary was mentioned in an August 18th Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story.
UW Oshkosh Department of Communication alum Lori Walters-Kramer addressed incoming students at SUNY-Plattsburgh on "developing the habits of the engaged citizen."
Commentary readers debated on the topic of "EAA, Noise, and Freedom."
Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum vetoed the Brown County Board's "English Only" Resolution.
Elvis appeared on Commentary.

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September 2002:

An Earth Charter Community Summit was held at UW Oshkosh. Commentary took some photos of the event.
The United States Postal Service announced a new stamp honoring founder of the United Farm Workers Cesar Chavez
Former Oshkosh Common Councilor Kevin McGee cleverly debunked the redevelopment of the 100 block of North Main St. in Oshkosh.
According to a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign report, northeast Wisconsin had the dubious distinction of being subject to more campaign ads during the first 8 months of 2002 than any other region in the state.
Former Illinois Senator Paul Simon came to Oshkosh to campaign for District 54 assembly candidate James Genisio.
Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance President Todd Berry appeared on Commentary.
Oshkosh Northwestern Executive Editor Stew Rieckman announced that the paper would not run far right activist Ann Coulter's syndicated column.
Journalist Norman Solomon visited Baghdad. Upon his return he called it the "city of doom."
The White House announced a new "national security strategy." Commentary released an exclusive photo of the new Praetorian Guard.
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy released data on the persistence of poverty wage jobs in Wisconsin.
Huge protests greeted the meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, D.C.
After acting as George W. Bush's poodle for most of the year, British Prime Minister Tony Blair faced the hugest protest in a generation calling for peace in Iraq.
Former Oshkosh Mayor Melanie Bloechl and journalist Cheryle Hentz debuted Eye on Oshkosh on Oshkosh Cable Access channel 10. Their first guest was UW Oshkosh professor of political science James Simmons.

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October 2002:

Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone died tragically in a plane crash. Dan Rylance and Tony Palmeri wrote memorials for Commentary.
Commentary viewers were introduced to the Free Trade Area of the Americas by some guests from Central America.
The Executive Editor of the Oshkosh Northwestern urged readers not to watch a debate between candidates for the 54th assembly district.
Peace rallies were held in Oshkosh throughout the fall and winter. Commentary took photos of the October 4 and October 11 rallies.
The Oshkosh Northwestern provided front page coverage of a peace rally in Oshkosh.
In one of the gutsiest editorials of the year, the Green Bay Press Gazette's Tom Perry urged voters to vote out of office all incumbents.
Wisconsin Senate majority leader Chuck Chvala and Assembly speaker Scott Jensen were charged with multiple felony counts. Tony Palmeri called Chuck and Scott "Pawns of a political system now under complete control of well-connected and powerful insiders. Pawns of a political system that they did not create but cultivated and mastered more expertly than most."
The Wisconsin legislature became a national embarrassment in Washington Post coverage.
Wisconsin satirist Michael Feldman explained the corruption scandals for a national audience in the New York Times.
The Oshkosh Northwestern questioned the fairness of the Commentary website. Tony Palmeri wrote this piece in response.
UW Oshkosh media professor Andrew Schroeder delivered a controversial speech on "Bush, Iraq, and the Rise of Military Globalization" as part of an October 28th UW Oshkosh forum on Iraq.

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November 2002:

The Green Bay News Chronicle urged voters to "throw em all out" and asked "Is there a Bob LaFollette out there anywhere?"
Jim Doyle became the first Democrat elected governor in 16 years, while Peg Lautenschlager became the first woman attorney general and Barbara Lawton the first woman Lt. governor. Detailed election results can be found here.
Neenah Senator Mike Ellis, an outcast in his own Republican Party, outlined political reforms needed in an op-ed appearing in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
New Democratic minority leader of the state senate Jon Erpenbach pledged to join Ellis and Common Cause Wisconsin on a campaign finance reform proposal.
The mainstream media made many mistakes in their analysis of the national midterm election results. Historian Rick Shenkman showed how.
Beatle great George Harrison died at the age of 58.
In November readers of the Oshkosh Northwestern learned of UW Oshkosh professor Ann Frisch's expose of abuses within Winnebago County Human Services. Professor Frisch sent copies of statements to Commentary.
Republican Secretary of State candidate Robert Lorge sent an open letter to the media. He said in part, "I do want to thank Corey Scholtka, WisconsinCaucusScandal.com, Wispoliticoms.com, Tony Palmeri, Bob Knudsen, Ben Jones, and a few other real Journalists still out there . . . "
An Oshkosh Northwestern story revealed that valley lawmakers have benefited from "legal laundering."
The conservative Wisconsin State Journal editorially endorsed a recall of alleged Democrat felon Chuck Chvala, but did not endorse the same treatment for alleged Republican felon Scott Jensen.
A New York Times summary of a December Atlantic Monthly essay revealed that John F. Kennedy was much more ill than anyone could have ever suspected.
On November 21st the Peoples' Campaign for Justice held a National Day of Protest against Wal-Mart.
Syndicated columnist Molly Ivins looked at the national terrain and called these "scary times in the USA."
Adbusters and other organizations sponsored another Buy Nothing Day to compete with the day after Thanksgiving media induced "shop till you drop" hype.
Former Republican Senator Jim Jeffords interpreted the midterm election results as being a "mandate for the middle."
The Eli Lilly corporation somehow received legal protection as part of the Homeland Security legislation.

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December 2002:

Reports showed that Wisconsin lobbyists curry favor with politicians through contributing to a governor's mansion fund. According to the reports, "In a formal garden outside the mansion, a cement bench is engraved with 'Philip Morris USA.'"
The UW Oshkosh Student Environmental Action Coalition released a statement in opposition to an Iraq war.
Receiving an honorary degree at the University of Turin, playwright Harold Pinter called the Bush Administration a "bloodthirsty wild animal."
The names of the corporations supplying Iraq's war machine were revealed.
The US Congress screwed the unemployed by not acting on an extension of benefits before going into recess.
Tony Palmeri defended WW II vet Gordon Doule's right to speak at Common Council meetings.
Peace activist Phil Berrigan died at the age of 79.
Russ Feingold announced plans to amend the Homeland Security legislation in 2003.
Trent Lott made some inane comments at Senator Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party, setting in place a media feeding frenzy that would eventually lead to his resignation as Senate majority leader.
Jay Heck of Common Cause Wisconsin called new assembly speaker John Gard's decision to appoint alleged felon Scott Jensen as chair of important legislative committees "business as usual." Gard defended his appointments in a letter to the Green Bay Press Gazette.
The Oshkosh Northwestern set a new low for reporting and editorial carelessness in writing about the possibility of privatizing the Oshkosh area school district food service.
Tony Palmeri wondered what would have happened if Strom Thurmond had actually been elected president in 1948.
A major study questioned the cost and effectiveness of Wisconsin's welfare reform efforts.
Ray Barrington of the Green Bay News Chronicle advocated an "all maverick" ticket of John McCain and Russ Feingold for 2004.
The Appleton Post-Crescent gave a "THUMBS DOWN To the Green Bay Packers, one of Wisconsin’s icons, for insulting the other — our dairy industry. The Packers, for an undisclosed sum, have signed a licensing agreement that allows Cass-Clay Creamery, Fargo, N.D., to market ice cream flavors including 'Lambeau Leap' and 'Frozen Tundra Fudge.' When the Packers signed a similar deal with Jack’s Pizza in Little Chute, they pulled out the publicity stops. This one, for some reason, they kept quiet."
Tony Palmeri released a list of newsmakers of the year.
Tony Palmeri gave out "Tony" Awards to deserving (and some not so deserving) Valley media.

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