Commentary Update for May 6, 2002: Falk, Free Speech Rights of Students, Sherman v. WDC, Early Money Is Like Yeast, Hintzville v. Maehlville, The Three Stooges

Dane County Executive and Democratic candidate for governor Kathleen Falk is the guest on this week's Commentary. Listening to her, I can see why the Doyle people, at least according to Tom Barrett, had a "heart attack" when she entered the race. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination is probably going to have to win Dane County, and Falk has the _sound_ of someone who will do quite well down there. I left the interview feeling that my August, 2001 analysis of Falk's chances (http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/falk.htm) still holds.

In other news, I was invited to speak last month at the joint meeting of the Wisconsin Communication Association and Wisconsin Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts on the topic of "The Free Speech Rights of Students." I think this information could be valuable especially for educators on the list: http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/freedom.htm

Our campaign finance reform friends at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign took a slap from State Representative Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) last week in the Ashland Daily Press: http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/sherman.htm
Here's the WDC Response: http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/wdcresponse.htm

Speaking of campaign finances, Mr. Mather and I asked Kathy Falk to talk about her endorsement by EMILY's list--the outfit that supports pro-choice women candidates in gubernatorial and legislative races. I didn't get a chance to bring this up on the show, but it turns out that EMILY stands for "Early Money is Like Yeast." They say it makes the "dough" rise. Mercy.

Personally, I'm depressed that neither Winnebago County Board Chair Joe Maehl nor new Oshkosh Mayor Steve Hintz are running for governor. Commentary caught both at the "Workers Memorial Day" rally in Oshkosh on April 28, and was able to get pictures of them standing in front of the kind of development that makes people proud to say they are from Oshkosh:http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/maehlvilleandhintzville.htm

Finally, if you read down this far you deserve some levity. Contrary to popular belief, the 3 Stooges have not passed on. Moe, Larry, and Curly showed up at Commentary not too long ago: http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/moelarrycurly.htm

Cheers,

-Tony