Well, maybe a few.
It was always a long shot. Running for school board as an “out” conservative in the Emerald City, especially as a write-in candidate.
Must admit, expected better than 12% of the vote. Apparently, did not go far enough out of my way to provoke the requisite number of liberals needed to win.
Licking no wounds this morning; tough outer shell protects inner creamy goodness. Congratulated Ali Muldrow upon her victory Tuesday 04-05-22 as taught by my father so many elections ago. (E-mail — no need for insincere chit chat.)
The people have spoken; they get the schools they want and deserve. My biggest regret: we lose another generation of disadvantaged kids because responsible adults refuse to install guard rails. The daily toll of 12- to 16-year olds stealing cars is the most visible evidence of Madison’s retreat from discipline.
One big ‘never mind!’
The Wisconsin State Journal put all its marbles, a few jacks, and three baseball cards behind “Newcomer Laura Simkin, who distinguished herself from her opponent as a supporter of police in schools,” in the words of its page-one story this morning. We warned editorial page editor Scott Milfred that Ms. Simkin was softer than banana pudding. The page-one story continues:
But Simkin said Tuesday night she didn’t think reinstating school resource officers would be broached by the board in the near future. Instead, she plans to spend some time looking into … [blah, blah, blah].
Why does Ms. Simkin remind us of Emily Litella? Former mayor Dave Cieslewicz was right: “Blaska won’t be intimidated.” What, then, are the school district’s priorities, as listed by re-elected school board president Muldrow? Raise your hands, class, if you guessed: foreign languages, art class for elementary kids, and teaching students how to vote. Blaska would have instituted restorative driver’s ed, at least. If kids are going to steal cars, might as well steal them safely.
‘Touched a nerve’
When you get 12% of the vote, you scrounge for scraps of consolation. Here’s mine, an e-mail received just before the votes were counted last night:
Good evening, sir. I’m a long time lurker on your site and enjoy your perspective on many things. My wife has been a teacher in the MMSD for many years, and is a proud Democrat/teacher union supporter. I love her, none the less…
While I have never directly mentioned you or your blog, I have used some of the perspectives you advocate for as discussion points. Well, today she got home from school and asked me if I knew who ‘Dave Blaska’ was. I sensed some sort of trap being set, but replied that, yes, I was familiar. She then proudly stated “I voted for him today.”
Regardless of the outcome tonight, that, my friend, is a sign that you have touched a nerve deep in the bluest of blue Madison. Appreciate everything you do. /signed/ ….
Blaska’s Bottom Line quotes Coach Mike Krzyzkewsi: “I’ll be fine. I’ve been blessed to be in the arena. When you’re in the arena, you’re either going to come out feeling great, or you’re going to feel agony. But you always will feel great about being in the arena.” Even better when there’s someone cheering for you.
25 responses to “No regrets”
We were proud to vote for you. As you said, Madison gets the schools they deserve by re electing Ali. You were the right choice. Too bad common sense has become almost nonexistent in the Emerald City.
https://stevewitherspoonhome.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/common-sense-headstone-2.jpg
Common Sense Has Been Buried in the Quaint Anecdotes of History
Oh Well,
Perhaps Mr. Blaska is more effective serving as a guerrilla leader for the American Separatists in Dane County, (reaching a larger audience, and saving himself a fortune on antacids). Some future American President may seek to annex Madison into the United States, and Blaska’s voice in a bi-partisan, coalition government will be invaluable.
Indeed, the people have spoken: “Long live Shithole MMSD”.
I suggest we all remember the Serenity Prayer and accept the things we cannot change. Perhaps focus on all the good things that are going to happen at Kaleem Caire’s new school.
YOU were the right choice. All of the bitching I hear and read about better end, because they either didn’t get out and vote or simply gave up in this political nightmare of a city. Oh wait, it can’t be political because all board members are non-partisan.
Also, I’m SO glad you mentioned Simkin’s “flip”. SRO’s in high schools was her #1 safety concern, garnered the votes to win the election, and within minutes of her win, put it on the backburner.
We all understand that “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, but to give in (and that’s what she did) before the ground is even broken?
I for one do not want MMSD to continue as it has. Basic and very important subjects such as reading, writing and math are not being taught in several of our elementary schools due to all of the attention and energy going to children that are misbehaving. With no real consequences it’s been a vicious cycle of pulling the misbehaving child out of the classroom, allowing to “self regulate” then putting back in the class just to do it 10 more times that day. Meanwhile, there’s 12 other children sitting in their seats waiting to learn. This has been my very real experience. My grandchild missed learning her first grade foundational skills due to this ridiculousness. I’m beyond frustrated and disgusted.
David,
I know exactly how you are feeling this morning.
Last year, I ran for a City Council position in our city of 130K outside of Atlanta.
Margaret and I knocked on over 1800 doors, placed yards signs and inserted push cards.
Despite our aggressive ground game execution, I too did not finish victorious.
In retrospect, I harbor no regrets and very much enjoyed the entire experience.
Thank you for you for stepping up…We all need to get off the couch!!!
I also wanted to thank you again for attending my father’s wake service.
Say hello to Lisa and Max.
Jeff “Gordie”
If public transportation is the answer to climate change why aren’t students stealing busses?
I didn’t know you were running as a write-in! I would have voted for you. I did show up to the polls. Why didn’t you run on the ballot?
David Blaska,
Thank you for your continued efforts to shift the makeup of the Madison School Board from irrational “progressive” absurdities towards rational thinking.
Muldrow winning the 4th seat on the Madison School Board again, is truly signature significant considering the state of the school district, its teacher and students. The vast majority of the people in the Madison school district have become nothing more than sheeple that have swallowed the absurd nonsense from Madison’s extreme social justice consumed “progressive” left. I fully expect Muldrow and her irrational social justice ilk to continue to drag the schools further down the rabbit hole into the abyss of absurdities and drive away quality teachers and further push concerned parents into leaving the school district; after all, when the light at then end of the tunnel is an oncoming train you get the heck off the tracks.
Here’s a note to the Madison electorate, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” while discipline in the school district classrooms gets progressively worse and worse. This is exactly what the Madison electorate has been doing for decades. What you enable continues and history shows us that it always gets worse; burying your head in the proverbial sand doesn’t change those facts. You reap what you sow, Madison.
I’m glad my children and grandchildren never had/have to attend Madison schools.
I sold my home in Stoughton in 2015. Since then, home prices there have risen substantially. I suspect now they will rise even more, as yet more people with actual kids to subject to the city’s dysfunctional schools uproot themselves for saner pastures. Wish I still had that property to sell. It likely will be an even better inflation fighter than it appears already to have become. Grrrr. But David Blaska, the fight MUST go on. A saner day must come — but apparently not until the city burns through many millions more on the DEI parasite consultants and their enablers now in charge.
Like I said … focus on the good school. This is very exciting:
https://madison365.com/summit-credit-union-to-open-a-student-run-branch-at-one-city-schools/
Thanks Dave for taking the arrows.
I think we should look around the state and see that conservatives took quite a bit of ground back on local school boards. And Kenosha elected its first Republican county exec!
Deep blue areas where we are unfortunately just aren’t ready yet, if ever.
Speaking of taking the arrows…
Here’s what it’s like sharing an opinion that opposes the “progressive” horde in the 21st century.
Or some republican that said trump lost.
More proof, if any were needed, that Madison voters, including parents, are so blinkered by leftist lunacy that they will willingly sacrifice their own kids’ education in service of their ideology. And the farther that ideology is from common sense, the more devoted they are to it.
11,000 votes! That’s all I need. Find me a lousy 11,000 votes.
Ha! Good one.
David,
We consider even 12% a good sign that enough people were sickened by the other choices for MMSD in yesterday’s election. Both my husband and I wrote in your name on our ballots! All you can do is try and like you wrote in your email, at least you’re in the arena, rather than just railing about the evils. Thank you for your efforts! Those people whose hearts are open to the truth, the Lord will reveal things to them in time. Those who aren’t…….well, it’s their choice to harden their hearts even further.
God Bless,Vaira (and Ron) Akselis
Far Better Is It To Dare Mighty Things, To Win Glorious Triumphs, Even Though Checkered By Failure…Than To Rank With Those Poor Spirits Who Neither Enjoy Nor Suffer Much, Because They Live In A Gray Twilight That Knows Not Victory Nor Defeat. T. Roosevelt
H/T Blaska; you got the word out and flipped some hearts-n-minds. Heck, even those of some career Lefties; no little feat, that.
Now? Hold Muldrow’s, et al, feet to the freakin’ flames!
The Gotch