Big In Wisconsin

I'm going to be on Wisconsin NPR with Joy Cardin at 7AM Central Time tomorrow morning to talk about "The Case for Partisanship".

Comments

You'll get lots of friendly calls from the progressives who dominate the WPR call-ins. Many are far left of you, including Joy, though she's a journalist and pretends to be objective. I'll tune for the show--and maybe call in.

Posted by Beer Here | March 24, 2008 5:32 PM

Sorry to hijack, but Monsters, Inc. now says the tax returns will be released "at least 3 days before" PA primary. Which would be April 19. A Saturday.

Posted by Monster | March 24, 2008 5:38 PM

Drop in the odd reference or two to ice fishing and Vince Lombardi and you'll be golden.

Posted by joejoejoe | March 24, 2008 5:59 PM

I finally read "The Case for Partisanship". Whereas I understand your point, I have to disagree.

It is nice to know, in general, where each party typically stands on an issue. However, one of the main reasons that I refuse to identify myself completely with one party or the other are the unintended consequences of this partisanship. What annoyed me most about the recent Republican domination of congress was not the 'Republican' identity nor was it the many laws that they passed that I disagreed with. To the winner goes the spoils... I get that.

What annoyed me was there pathological need to put in partisan poison pill provisions into every piece of legislation they introduced. The bills seemed to be designed more for 'gotcha' politics than to, you know, actual do the business of the United States of America. It was more about 'If you vote yes, we will kill you in November, and if you vote no, it will be even worse. Being an avid reader of many progressive blogs as well as some conservative ones as well, I am hearing cat calls for the democrats do the same thing while the republicans in the senate, with all of their 'we are going to filibuster everything' attitude, are being called upon to do whatever they can to do the same.

This simply isn't conducive to constructively running a government. It really isn't. the sad thing is that, if given the opportunity and the freedom to not have to vote down party lines at all times, I believe that there are many things that the congress could do that most of us, as a nation, feel should be done. In the current climate of hyper-partisanship, all of that seems to go away and we end up with bad 'compromise' bills that even you acknowledge are useless.

In theory, a lot things are good ideas. In practice, human nature gets involved.

Posted by Benniefly2 | March 24, 2008 6:04 PM

Be sure to talk up why Russ Feingold would be a great VP pick for Obama. Or at least a SCOTUS pick.

Posted by badger | March 24, 2008 6:06 PM

The article is excellent.

I wonder if you would consider discussing Barack Obama in the context of that article?

Posted by Armando | March 24, 2008 7:28 PM

"The article is excellent. I wonder if you would consider discussing Barack Obama in the context of that article?"

What Armando said.

(And the answer from Matthew will be NO.)

Posted by Petey | March 24, 2008 7:34 PM

Looking forward to it. I'll wake up an hour early to catch you, and maybe even call in.

Posted by Mark | March 24, 2008 8:24 PM

Suggestion: mention the candy raisins campaign, and you'll win over the Wisconsin listeners as not just another hoity toity East Coaster that doesn't understand:

http://www.savethecandyraisins.com/?p=17

Posted by artappraiser | March 24, 2008 11:45 PM

Notice how Matt spends most of his time lately arguing for arguing?

Posted by Richard Steven Hack | March 25, 2008 12:55 AM

"Notice how Matt spends most of his time lately arguing for arguing?"

Well it's a hard thing to make the case against...

Posted by Revamp | March 25, 2008 7:47 AM

Here is a link for anyone interested in hearing to the show: http://www.wpr.org/webcasting/audioarchives_display.cfm?Code=jca

Posted by Alex | March 25, 2008 12:22 PM