Commentary Update for June 10, 2003: Gannett praises Palmeri, FCC implications, Open letter to Palmeri, More Palmeri, Brock on Bush's preemptive hot war policy, A Second Opinion, The WMD Crisis, Garvey at WCLU Dinner, Good-bye Labor Institute.

This week we'll repeat our Fall interview with Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton. One wonders how much influence the liberal Lawton is having on the "moderate" Doyle Administration these days. Our friend Steve Walters at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported yesterday that Doyle may veto the entire budget the Republicans will send him next week. This is a budget that the Cap Times says is built on "lies and fantasy," and even establishment brown noser Don Kettl has given it some serious criticism. Oshkosh Northwestern Executive Editor Stew Rieckman sees the budget as a crafty political document but that much of what the Republicans propose "is not bad policy." Not sure what budget he's looking at.

My own opinion is that Doyle should (1) angrily veto the entire Republican budget, (2) withdraw the budget he initially submitted and admit that he like the Republicans was really not serious about getting to the root of our budget problem, (3) start over with the premise that the goal of the revised budget will be to put an end to the "graft tax." The problem is that Doyle doesn't have the cojones to do (1), the rectitude to do (2), or the political courage to do (3). The end result will be that Doyle and the Republicans will continue to rely on gimmicks and accounting tricks, and the corrupt system keeping this madness in place will continue. I hope I'm wrong.

In Other News:

*Gannett Praises Palmeri: Gannett's Oshkosh Northwestern printed an editorial last week rejecting the "doomsday" rhetoric of those outraged by the recent FCC decision to eliminate most media ownership restrictions. In the editorial they say, "The new rules are about having the FCC learn to change with the times and an excellent local example may be seen in the work of Chairman of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Department of Communication Tony Palmeri, who has become something of a local media critic. He provides information via a Web site, e-mail, a community access television show and a newspaper column." I appreciate the kind words, though my Sicilian instincts cannot help but see this as a "kiss of death."

*Local Implications of FCC Ruling: Ray Barrington's latest column talks about possible consequence of the FCC action for northeast Wisconsin.

*Open Letter to Palmeri/call for submissions: Jim Meyer, the former editor of the Valley Scene and a great guy, has an open letter in this month's Scene that is a response my open letter to Russ Feingold. The Valley Scene is now planning to print letters to the editor. Here are the guidelines: "The Scene accepts letters in response to its articles, as well as general commentary on current events. Letters should be no more than 450 words and may be edited for length. Those who wish to submit lengthier commentaries may make arrangements with the editor by emailing tbreuer@valleyscene.com or by calling 920-733-5743. Submissions may be emailed, faxed to 920-733-5743 or delivered via friendly neighborhood postal carrier to The Scene, 300 N. Appleton St., Suite 2, Appleton, WI 54911. We hope you will take advantage of this new forum."

*More Palmeri: I was quoted recently on the Patriot Act in the American Federation of Teachers paper called "On Campus." You have to read all the way to end to get to my quote, but it would be worthwhile as Barbara McKenna's piece does a very good job of explaining the impact of anti-terror measures on universities. Much of what I say on these issues is inspired by my local civil liberties mentor, UW Oshkosh Professor of Political Science Martin Gruberg. Martin has been one of the shining lights on the UW Oshkosh campus since 1963.

*Brock on Bush's preemptive hot war policy: Bernie Brock of Wayne State University in Detroit kindly forwarded me a piece he wrote for the Michigan Citizen on Bush's preemptive hot war policy. Good background reading for this piece is the National Security Strategy of the United States, released in September of 2002. Commentary at that time received an exclusive photo of the new Praetorian Guard.

*A Second Opinion: The June issue of John Lemberger's A Second Opinion is now available online. The June issue includes a piece by UW Oshkosh emeritus professor of biology Bill Willers on "privatization and neo-feudalism." Like Gruberg, Willers was/is one of the true movers and shakers around these parts. Lord knows these parts need movers and shakers!

*The WMD crisis: By now we are all aware that the Bush administration at the very least exaggerated their claims about Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, and that the Democrats are having a field day calling them on it. Our sportswriter friend at the Oshkosh Northwestern, Chuck Carlson, even found a way to take a little dig in a piece about Sammy Sosa's corked bat: "Sure all his records will be called into question, all the goodwill he built up will be soiled and if anyone believes every one of his home runs was hit without a corked bat than you're probably still convinced there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."

*Garvey at WCLU Dinner: Ed Garvey was the featured speaker at the annual Fox Valley chapter of the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union dinner in May. Here's a photo. Garvey of late has been outspoken in his criticism of the spinelessness of the state Democratic Party. That's why is was nice to see Democrat Spencer Black finally try to get the Dems to say something meaningful on taxes. Dennis Kucinich is saying similar things in the race for the presidency, though I think the odds of him getting the Democratic nomination are about as good as Anna Kournikova winning the US Open. Possible, but not very likely. Of course if there were as many website shrines devoted to Dennis as there are to Anna, then he might win by a landslide. Maybe he should ask her to be his running mate? (an invitation to which she might respond by saying, "sorry, politics is not my racket." Please don't throw tomatoes at your computer screen). Oh and by the way, I've never seen an Anna K. website but read about them in the Christian Science Monitor.

*Good-bye Labor Institute: Allegedly due to budget constraints, UW Madison is eliminating its Labor Relations Institute. As reported in the Madison Capital Times, only one member of the Board of Regents (Jesus Salas) tried to get the campus to reconsider. What I found disappointing is the Eileen Connolly-Keesler, the new Regent from the Fox Valley, said that supporting Salas' suggestion would be "micromanaging" the system. Sigh . . .

All the best,

-Tony