Stuart E. Eizenstat, former U.S. ambassador to the European Union, will give a pair of talks on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus on Tuesday, April 12.
Eizenstat will discuss his book, “Imperfect Justice: Looted Assets, Slave Labor and the Unfinished Business of World War II,” in Room 7200 at the UW Law School at 1:30 p.m.
Then, at 3 p.m., he will speak on “Transatlantic Relations in the Second Bush Term,” at the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St. Eizenstat’s talks, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by the UW-Madison’s European Union Center, in collaboration with the Office of the Dean of International Studies.
Category: Politics
Local Political Web Site: Ben Moga
Ben Moga stays on top of his Alder race with Robbie Weber via his blog at www.votemoga.com
Politics on Wheels
By analyzing new-car sales, surveying car owners and keeping count of political bumper stickers, they are identifying the differences between Democratic cars and Republican ones.
Among their findings: buyers of American cars tend to be Republican – except, for some reason, those who buy Pontiacs, who tend to be Democrats. Foreign-brand compact cars are usually bought by Democrats – but not Mini Coopers, which are bought by almost equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. And Volvos may not actually represent quite what you think.
John Nichols on Local Endorsements
John Nichols comments on local endorsements from the Wisconsin State Journal:
As such, they’ve set up an interesting choice for Madisonians. If voters think that George Bush is a great president and that Tammy Baldwin is a rotten member of Congress, they will definitely want to back the State Journal’s slate of candidates.
This is a very interesting time….
Free Speech & Blogs Cause Flap in Tennessee
The fast growing internet writer (and free speech) world is making some waves. Bill Hobbs relates the story of the Tennessee House Speaker killing a representative’s bill because he “had the nerve” to start writing about the “goings-on” in the legislature. More here and here. Civil, respectful discourse can only benefit our society. Internet writers are simply stepping into the void created by a changing media landscape.
I think Therese Berceau would be an excellent legislative blogger.
Therese Berceau: 2cents for Alcohol Abuse
Madison State Representative Therese Berceau introduced 2cents for Alcohol Abuse Treatment Legislation. (pdf)
Feingold 2008 – More
Russ Feingold continues his travels in preparation (?) for a 2008 run for president – wispolitics.
Paying for Phone Service You Never Use
“I have to pay for a service I’m never using,” he said.
He has no choice. His telephone company, SBC Communications, will not sell him high-speed Internet access unless he buys the phone service, too. That puts him in the same bind as many people around the country who want high-speed, or broadband, Internet access but no longer need a conventional telephone. Right now, their phone companies tend to have a “take it or leave it” attitude.
Local telco provider TDS Metro has the same policy: you must purchase legacy phone service with dsl internet access.
Employees Who Smoke Face Health Care Surcharge
That’s why she is troubled by a rule that will go into effect at her company next January. Trapp-Dietz and other smokers who work at Northwestern Mutual – regardless of whether they light up at home or outside the building at work – will pay an extra $25 a month for health insurance coverage.
Trapp-Dietz said considers the fee an invasion of her private life.
“I know I have to quit, and I really want to. But I don’t like being told to by my employer,” she said.
These type of disincentives are already in play if one purchases other benefit type products such as life insurance.
Feingold 2008: Winer Announcements Perhaps First Endorsement
Dave Winer says he will support Russ Feingold for President in 2008, though he comments that “I’m sure he has almost no chance of winning, but every time I’ve wondered if anyone would stand up against the lunatics that run this country, Feingold has been there”. The Democrats certainly need to think different…. Perhaps Janesville’s Russ Feingold is the answer?
Russ has earned my respect over the years because: he’s always been willing to talk, spends his time flying coach on commercial airlines, dining at places the rest of us choose and generally showing up to visit with the people.
A useful question for Russ: Can one be idealistic & effective in the current political arena?