The Rise of American Idiocy

By Jeff Simpson

I am not talking about the possible election of Nation Consulting to head the Democratic Party, as that would just be the end of the Democratic Party.   This is truly the end!

Jessica McBride wrote an article on what the Republicans are doing to the UW System.  

If all of this stuff passes and is not reinstituted as policy by the Regents, I am willing to say you will see the immediate erosion of the UW system's reputation in academia. It will be very hard to recruit high-caliber talent. That's just a fact. Feeling demonized, and without job security, our best faculty and researchers may also go elsewhere. Why wouldn't they? This, to them, is a BIG deal. Students suffer from staff turnover and budget cuts.
Tenure protects academic freedom and the ability of professors to perform controversial research and express controversial ideas (theoretically; just look at John McAdams at Marquette. But he wouldn't have even had a fighting chance in expressing conservative views on campus and criticizing administration if he was a fixed term employee. He probably would just shut up). So these changes will stifle freedom of expression. People won't want to risk it. I actually thought twice before writing this column.

This of course led to your typical, professors are overpaid and they are all communists claptrap but amongst the dumb, one comment really shone stupid:

Terri Christofalos Burl Excuse me if I don't buy into the hyperbole. And I also don't buy into the statement you made about the UW system being iconic. I don't know if I'm in the minority but BFD!! There are excellent universities throughout the United States....certainly those better than the UW's. Wisconsin is not the 'best and brightest'. That comment makes me laugh. I understand you were probably born and raised here but coming from IL, I don't agree. You think UW has a national rep? I never heard of the UW system until I moved here 10 years ago & honestly, I think people here are kinda' nutty about the UW system. Everyone else (except WI) thinks that the UW is much ado about NOTHING. 

This state gives them more power than they deserve, especially with all of the UW extensions. I have heard Joy Cardeen from WPR, say umpteen times that although she works at WPR, she is a part of the UW Extension, too. It's like some kind of unholy alliance. I'm beginning to think that you and those like you have a cultist idea that the UW is too big to fail and you'll do everything in your power to make sure that they don't....even if they deserve to! UNREAL.
This state gives them more power than they deserve, especially with all of the UW extensions. I have heard Joy Cardeen from WPR, say umpteen times that although she works at WPR, she is a part of the UW Extension, too. It's like some kind of unholy alliance. I'm beginning to think that you and those like you have a cultist idea that the UW is too big to fail and you'll do everything in your power to make sure that they don't....even if they deserve to! UNREAL.Like · Reply · 2 · 12 hrsTerri Christofalos Burl Jessica, yes.... some of the campuses deserves to fail. Cut this monster down to size and deal with the campuses that do what you describe wrt excellence. You can't lump them all into one pile of equality. Surely you know which campuses/facilities we can do without? Do it.

The anti intellectual wave that has taken over our state and our country will NOT come without consequences.  The UW system puts $24 back into the economy for every $1 that we put in,  It is very unfortunate for all involved that the current group of Republicans have even less of a clue about business and economics as they do education.  

I think it is time to retire the term American Exceptionalism.

 

Is the Flynn - McBride Affair Still Going On Or Just Again?

Looks like former radio squawker Jessica McBride couldn't keep her hands off Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn's nightstick after all.

Like the crazy politics in Fitzwalkerstan wasn't enough to keep me busy.

What A Ringing Endorsement!

After weeks of Team Walker hyping the thrice-married adulterer and corrupt Newt Gingrich was coming to Milwaukee to speak at a fund raiser for Walker, we find out that Gingrich isn't even supporting the guy. From JSOnline:

In response to a reporter's question, Gingrich said he wasn't endorsing Walker, and Gingrich's presence did not mean he preferred the county executive over former Republican Rep. Mark Neumann, who also has said he will likely seek the party endorsement for governor in 2010.

Doyle is expected to seek a third term.

"When I was asked to come, Scott Walker was the only candidate in the race," Gingrich said. "My goal, frankly, is to fill up the slate" with solid candidates all over the U.S., he said.

Apparently, even Gingrich understands that Walker isn't a solid candidate.

That's almost as funny as Walker actually getting endorsed by Jessica McBride.

Newt's Coming To Town

Oh, boy, Newt Gingrich is coming to town to stump for Walker. Yippee.

I've made by feelings known already over here:

We all know that Charlie Sykes has been carrying water for Scott Walker for a long, long time.

Now, Newt Gingrich is coming to town next week to show support for Walker.

How much longer before Team Walker can announce endorsements from Governor Mark Sanford, Senator John Ensign, Senator David Vitter, Senator Larry Craig, and of course, Jessica McBride?

Oh, and BTW, the question has been answered. I hope she does an in depth interview with Walker. That would eliminate two problems at one time.