The end of politics as we know it!

Tony Evers is just good people policy

We seem to recall having practiced the journalism trade in the pre-Facebook era, even before Netscape’s internet browser. (The internet? Netscape?) Before cable news and the 24/7 news cycle. 

Some things, however, never change — that being the dominant culture’s bias against conservatives. Remember how John McCain’s acceptance speech at the 2008 Minneapolis convention was disrupted by protestors? John McCain! Booed! 

Then again, my former employers at The Capital Times never had anything good to say about Tommy Thompson.

Now it is happy days and Joanie loves Chachi that Tony Evers is Wisconsin’s new governor. Because he’s a liberal Democrat and liberal Democrats hate politics like Nicolas Maduro hates profits.  

Isthmus, the liberal-progressive-socialist Madison weekly, is clearly in a celebratory mood. “People before politics,” exults the headline above editor Judith Davidoff’s article. 

Because it is People Before Politics!

One is reminded of President Merkin Muffley’s admonition in Dr. Strangelove: “No fighting in the war room.” 

“No Politics in the Wisconsin state capitol!” 

Never mind Fukuyama’s End of History, it’s the End of Politics.

We reference our history as an ink-stained wretch as credentials to spot a clearly biased “news” story. A most effective technique is the selective quote. Ms. Davidoff chose to lead off her account with a particular lady who found herself blubbering over the end of the eight-year Scott Walker Occupation.

“I’m an economist,” she added. “I think good policy is not a partisan issue.” (As if Milton Friedman and John Maynard Keynes were on the same textbook page!) Isthmus continues:

She noted that the state needs an educated workforce and that Evers, the state’s former schools superintendent, has worked in a field where “you can’t be partisan… and you have to work with everybody.”

As if there is no difference between Betsy DeVos and Randi Weingarten.) Well, yes you do. Or, at the very least, yes you should say so because, gosh darnnit, it just sounds so kumbaya. (Now Blaska is getting all misty. We are hearing Johnny Mathis.)

Because it is People Before Politics! 

The more churlish among the white lab coats at Blaska Policy Werkes wanted Tony Ever’s inaugural address to be broadcast on tape delay so that Mystery Science Theater’s three characters (including the empty gumball machine) could riff on the speech.

That is no more outlandish that CNN’s execrable Don Lemon calling for Trump’s Oval Office address to be aired on a delay “in case he spews propaganda.” (More here.) You first, Don Lemon tree, very bitter. 

Or The Nation magazine “demanding” that the networks refuse to air the speech at all, on the grounds familiar to all Madison Progs: it is hate speech. https://www.thenation.com/article/trump-hate-speech-violence-against-immigrants/

Time to pop We Are the World into the VCR! I’m going to work with Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump and, and doggone it, I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and people really like me! (Oh, wait … nevermind.)

It’s just good policy

Good policy is not a partisan issue! Like the picture Isthmus runs with “People Before Politics.” Read the photograph’s cutline:

Members and supporters of Voces de la Frontera rallied at the Capitol in support of Gov. Evers’ plan to include the restoration of driver licenses and in-state college tuition for Wisconsin immigrant residents.

Good policy? Paying in-state tuition to Wisconsin immigrant residents (Left-wing dog whistle for “illegal aliens.” Disband I.C.E.! Serenity Now!) Why, of course! Because More Free Stuff is not a partisan issue. Any more than Free College and Medicare For All and a 70% top income tax rate.

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Walker claims that Evers supports granting driver’s licenses and in-state tuition for “illegal aliens.” Walker is clearly on point on the driver’s license issue. As for in-state tuition for DACA students, Evers backs that, too. … by definition they are not in the country legally. …  So the statement is accurate, but it requires some clarification and detail on DACA status. That’s our definition of Mostly True.  — Politifact 11/02/18

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Blaska’s Bottom Line: People Before Politics! If you disagree, why, you’re just playing politics, people. And excercising your First Amendment free speech rights, except when it involves Hate Speech, which is prohibited by those with whom you disagree.