For all other municipalities contact the municipal clerk. Contact information can be found here: Municipal Clerk List
Fighting Bob Fest
Saturday, September 9th
Annual Progressive Festival located in Baraboo, WI. The free fest featured political speakers, including Democracy Now! host, Amy Goodman, live music and more.
Your source for Indie-rock and Hip Hop news and reviews. Covering Local to National artists.
Sean Lennon: “Friendly Fire”
by Chris “Eli Cash” Krekling
John Lennon's two sons have both struggled to step out of their father's massive shadow with their own musical ventures. After a short-lived success in the ‘80s, Julian Lennon quickly fell into the “One-Hit Wonder” category. Full Review
An Evening with the Original Supergroup
by Kieran Grogan
For the common citizen, it may be rare to witness the trueness of pure spectacle, but when the gods of rock and roll call you to stand tall, the result may turn out in your favor.
September 22nd - It is likely that you have already heard about President Bush's latest political maneuver to change the rules for the interrogation and prosecution of terrorism suspects. If passed, this bill would redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, which concerns prohibited acts during war-time. More specifically, it would strip suspects of their right to view all of the evidence that has been collected and used against them, allow for here-say and coerced testimony, if deemed reliable. Most alarming, Bush's version would amend the War Crimes Act of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions to prohibit only certain "serious violations." It does not mention "outrages upon personal dignity" or "humiliating or degrading" treatment - such as the forced nakedness, use of dog leashes and wearing of women's underwear seen at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq -- that fall short of torture. It would also allow for prosecution of pre-September 11th crimes.
What exactly does Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions say, you ask? Passed and unchanged since 1949, it is actually quiet simple:
To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons (captured combatants and civilians):
violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
taking of hostages;
outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment;
the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.
At a recent White House press conference, the President said that "outrages upon personal dignity" or more specifically, "human dignity" is too abstract of a notion. Most see it quite simply: human (or personal) dignity is recognizing that every human being has the right to exist. Such a seemingly simple idea is perplexing to our Commander-In-Chief.
WHATS WRONG WITH BUSH'S PROPOSAL?
Some critics say Bush's proposal is an Ex Post Facto Law, meaning that it would retroactively absolve the President, CIA officials, former military personnel and anyone else involved, of crimes which were committed under the original version of the Geneva Conventions. As signatories of the Conventions , which apply to more than 190 nations worldwide, the US is required to make grave violations of the Geneva Conventions a punishable criminal offence. So without a change in law, the disgraceful detainee treament at Aub-Gharaib and Gitmo could bring charges against this administration. Additionally, the fact still remains that retroactively rewriting law to avoid being held responsible for a crime is not acceptable practice in a Democracy. Just imagine if someone committed a murder and then, at a later date, an official changed the law to say that the murderer's actions where legal. Such an act should be unheard of, but its similar to what Bush is trying to accomplish in order to legalize his actions.
Bush has been pressuring Congress to pass his legislation concerning terror detainees (see video of press conference). Key Senators reject Bush's legislation who say that Bush's bill will ultimately put our soldiers in harms way. Nay-Sayers include fellow Republican Senator John McCain. He was held as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam and is arguing against Bush's current proposal, saying, " We have to hold the moral high ground," said Sen. John McCain of Arizona, one of the Republicans not satisfied with the White House proposal. "We don't think al Qaeda will ever observe those conventions, but we're going to be in other wars." "That's what we do not want, because Americans would be setting the precedent for changing a treaty that has been untouched by any nation for 57 years," he said.
Senator McCain is not the only official against Bush's policy. On an appearance on NPR Wednesday, Former US President Bill Clinton warned against circumventing international standards on prisoner treatment, citing U.S. abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, criticism of treatment at the Guantanamo Bay prison for suspected terrorists and a secret CIA prison system outside the United States. "The president says he's just trying to get the rules clear about how far the CIA can go when they're when they whacking these people around in these secret prisons," Clinton said in NPR's "Morning Edition" interview. "If you go around passing laws that legitimize a violation of the Geneva Convention and institutionalize what happened at Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo, we're going to be in real trouble," he said.
Moreover, by invading Iraq preemptively and remaining at war even after it has been well documented that we have no reason to be at war, this administration has already set a new, lower standard for the international community to follow. Instead of worsening our image and adding fuel to the fire of hatred and violence, Americans and our Representatives need to stand up together and hold this Administration accountable for breaking the law. The only way that we can hope to lead the way to peaceful and sane international relations, and gain the forgiveness of the world community, is to stop supporting these criminals and take control of our government.
America should be a beacon of freedom, human rights and human dignity. We need to hold people accountable for war crimes, including our leaders.
Sept. 19th - This video clip, aired on MSNBC's "Countdown," gives Bush's repsonse to Colin Powell's recent letter to John McCain, in which Powell says that
"The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism...To redefine Common Article 3 would add to those doubts."
The clip also includes the unedited exchange between President Bush and NBC correspondent, David Gregory. During which, Gregory asks the President if he would find it acceptable for other countries to follow his breaking of precedent to make changes, as they see fit, to the Geneva Conventions. Besides belittling the reporter, Bush stammers and insists that redefining Article 3 to include torture is essential to the continued intellegence operations of the current "War on Terror."
More on this issue to be posted soon.
//related links
"Bush Owes Us an Apology"
Broadcasted 9/18/06 on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann"
September 8th - The image of swastikas, armbands, and SS helmets on the Wisconsin State Capitol steps is an ironic image of free speech. Images, however, are quite powerless compared to gestures.
On August 26th, as many as 1500 counter-demonstrators shut down the voice and content of the National Socialist Party. Their message of race hatred fell on deaf ears as shouts, drums, and whistles filled the air. A diverse range of viewpoints made their presence known with signs and flags: from the Holocaust-remembering Jews to the immigration-rights-demanding Latinos, anarchists, labor, socialists, and more. So far, a typical protest.
Asking why people came out to the protest invoked a typical response – something along the lines of “Nazis are bad people,” or, “Race hatred is not acceptable here in Madison.” Since this didn't answer my question, a question concerning the libidinal investment of a large number of people, I probed further. Depending on your political background, this may or may not come as surprise: People linked the war in Iraq to the fascism of some wanna-be KKK redneck party.
Just at a time when Donald Rumsfeld is calling any who question his infinite wisdom appeasers, Chamberlain, or the Volk, there is an energy in the street that is saying, “Fascism is not coming, it has already begun.”
Many of the protestors went on to speak about the PATRIOT ACT, warrantless wiretapping, secret prisons, being videotaped and photographed by the police at this protest (perhaps for later harassment), the complete demonization of dissent, war for oil, and the lapdog press. The seeds of fascism have been planted; they've sprouted.
To paraphrase Bill Clinton, only a few weeks ago, “Having a philosophy means one's views are open to question, to doubt, to the ideas of others. Having an ideology means only looking at facts (or just making them up) to fit one's world-view.” It is clear that this administration rules with a closed ideology, and is quickly running out of facts to support their views. November cannot come soon enough.
Emergency Contraception and the Politicization of Science
By Tammi Kral
Category: Gender Issues, Science
By now you have probably heard about the recent FDA decision to allow women access to “emergency contraception” without a prescription. The long-awaited decision (it has been over three years) will not allow women under 18 years of age to obtain the drug, however, without a prescription.
According to their press statement, the drug was not proven safe for women ages 16 and younger to take as an over-the-counter medication, although it is safe for women of such age to take Plan-B while supervised by a physician.
What's the big deal? Well, first off, juveniles are more likely to be in a situation where they are unable to obtain a prescription, due to many factors, such as not wanting to confront parents or needing such access over a weekend when clinics are not open. (Plan B has to be taken within 72 hours to be effective). In addition, requiring that a juvenile obtain a prescription from a physician, does not take into consideration the many young women who are victims of incest, as well as the growing number of uninsured Americans who do not have access to a physician.
In an effort to better understand the logic that led to this decision to restrict emergency contraception to adults, I went to the FDA's web site and read the various press statements and memorandum under “Plan B”. As it turns out, this was a unique case for the FDA, in that it would be the first time that one drug would be sold both as a prescription only as well as an OTC drug. In order to do so the company that manufactures Plan B, Barr Pharmaceuticals, had to figure out a way to package the product with both types of labels. This allowed the company to sell one drug separately to two different populations, but with only the cost of one type of package.
Apparently, our society views young women as too ignorant to know how to swallow one pill, followed by another a few hours later –as well as reading instructions. Yet, if this same woman who is too dull to deserve responsibility for taking a couple pills bears a child, I do not think the state asserts that she is too immature to raise that child. I do not even think she is forced to receive proper healthcare throughout her pregnancy, especially if she is a member of the growing Uninsured.
And what does this all mean for adults that need so-called “over-the-counter” emergency contraception? They will be subject to the religiosity of pharmacists, who must procure the “racy” pills from under or behind the counter for their customer. In case you did not feel irresponsible enough, how about a nice lecture from a complete stranger about your moral fiber?
The reluctance to approve emergency contraception for over-the-counter use to all women is another sign of the ever-growing influence of religion on our government. Similar to laws attempting to thwart other “sinful activities”, such as homosexuality, restricting the availability of contraception is a direct attack on peoples' right to privacy. There is no reason one should have to justify their lifestyle choices to anyone, especially government officials, when there is no harm done to anyone. If there is freedom of religion, there should also be freedom from religion.
Finally, the most basic reason this decision by the FDA needs to be questioned is that we can not accept any small concession when, in doing so, we must give up other freedoms. It is definitely a step in the right direction that adults are able to obtain emergency contraception without a doctor's note, but we must not forget the basic principles at risk; every human being on this planet has basic rights, foremost of which should be the right to control over one's body and mind.
Table at Events
You can set up a table at public events and provide information on the issue. This is also a great chance to meet like-minded people, talk to them about their concerns and coordinate.
Distribute Flyers and Put up Posters
You can print out materials and distribute them to friends and the public in order to raise awareness about issues.
Write a Letter to the Editor
You can write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and express your opinion about issues that are being covered (or are noticeably absent). Your letter might very well be printed in the "Letters to the Editor" section, which is the second-most read feature in a newspaper.
Meet with your Elected Representatives
You can meet with elected officials or their representatives and tell them what you think about a certain issue or bill, and to try to get him or her to take action on that issue. If you are interested in helping the ACLU lobby on federal issues, please click here . To help you with local meetings, we've prepared a section on " Meeting Your Elected Representative ".
Join a Demonstration
All across the country people are showing their disproval of government policies by peacefully demonstrating. You can join these gatherings and add your voice.
Get Trained
If you wish to be a successful activist, you need to develop skills that will make you effective and efficient.
Vote
You can vote for candidates who share your belief in a safe and free society. To find out a candidate's voting record, please visit the ACLU's National Freedom Scorecard .
Start a Letter-Writing Campaign
Recruit friends and others to write letters to Members of Congress and the State House/Senate on key issues.
Organize a public event
You can organize public events (such as rallies, speaking forums, town hall meetings, and concerts) to raise awareness about the issues and perhaps even raise funds. By gathering interesting speakers and cool activities (music, dancing, etc.), you not only recruit new members, but you may also get media attention.
Volunteer
Many activist affiliates (such as the ACLU) rely on volunteers. By volunteering you are not only contributing significantly to the work that needs to be done, you also develop great experience and gain tremendous knowledge about the issues. You can find the affiliate in your area by clicking here .
Get a Resolution Passed in Your Community
Many communities around the country have passed resolutions indicating their commitment to defend civil liberties. These resolutions show politicians at all levels believe that civil liberties must be preserved and that it is possible to be both safe and free.
GET ACTIVE!
Lists of Local Opportunities to get involved with.
Local Democracy Convention
Sept 28 - Oct 1, 2006
UW Law School, Madison,WI
Panels include:
Localizing the Democracy: Building a Global Movement for Local Democracy
Community Power in a Democratic Society
Democratizing the Local: Popular Participation
Uniting for Democracy: Schools, Colleges and Communities
Employers Fight Tough Measures on Immigration - Businesses are proposing alternatives to laws with harsh punishments for hiring illegal immigrants, reopening a rift in the Republican Party.
Iran Says Its Nuclear Policy Has Not Changed - Iran?s nuclear policy has not been changed by incentives, an Iranian government spokesman said, confirming that Iran would not comply with Security Council resolutions.
Fox News Sunday: Barnes Suggests McCain Use Gay Bashing To Energize Base -
Gay bashing worked for Republicans in 2002 and 2004, and on this today’s Fox News Sunday, The Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes suggests that it’s a winning issue for John McCain in 2008:
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“He needs to touch on, and - some of the social issues which energize the right. In particular, gays in the military [...]
Glenn Beck on how the US should treat Gitmo detainees: We?re going to shoot them all in the head -
Listen to this rant about the Supreme Court decision on Gitmo detainees and you’ll know the state of conservatism in this country He’s like so many of them.
Beck: This court has done some frightening. frightening things….If I’m president of the US, I would go on National television and say—’ladies and gentlemen, the Supreme Court said [...]
This Just In: Bush Doctrine Still Dead - The steady stream of bad news about Afghanistan this week served to highlight two inescapable truths regarding the conflict against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. First, Barack Obama is right that the ongoing commitment of American forces in Iraq is limiting the United States in its pursuit of Al Qaeda along the Pakistan frontier. Second, the [...]
Mike?s Blog Roundup - And Doctor Biobrain’s Response Is…: How McCain stopped the FARCing bullsh*t
Nieman Watchdog: Frustration in the Army officer corps
Sadly, No! Wouldn’t G-Dub make an awesome high school government teacher?
his vorpal sword: Trivial Pursuit - Schizophrenic Edition
The Opinion Mill’s Weekend Bookchat: Authors speak on Roger Ailes, Karl Rove and the government’s imprisonment of dissidents. Plus a [...]
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New appeal over students' murder - Police release an e-fit of a man seen near the scene of the double murder of two French students in south London.
Suicide bomb hits Pakistan police - At least eight policemen are killed by a suicide bomb in Pakistan's capital, a year on from the bloody ending of a mosque siege.
Nadal wins epic Wimbledon final - Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer in five dramatic sets to win his first Wimbledon title amid incredible drama on Centre Court.
Five held over teenager's death - Five people are arrested in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Shakilus Townsend in south London.
Afghan strike 'hit wedding party' - At least 20 people, said by locals to be a wedding party, die in a missile strike by coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan.
BBC NEWS
World News
Suicide bomb hits Pakistan police - At least eight policemen are killed by a suicide bomb in Pakistan's capital, a year on from the bloody ending of a mosque siege.
Afghan strike 'hit wedding party' - At least 20 people, said by locals to be a wedding party, die in a missile strike by coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan.
UAE waives billions of Iraqi debt - The UAE says it is cancelling the entire debt owed to it by Iraq, a sum of almost $7bn (£3.5bn) including interest.
Top UN official killed in Somalia - Gunmen in Mogadishu have killed the head of the UN Development Programme in Somalia, UN officials say.
Betancourt plans play on ordeal - Ingrid Betancourt says she will write a play about spending six years as a hostage of Colombian rebels.
Losing the mullet, angling for veep - Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has a shot at being John McCain's No. 2 -- and it's not just because of the snazzy new haircut.
A deluge waiting to happen - Nature will do as nature does, but humans are to blame for the deadly Midwestern floods.
Could be Biden time - He's got experience, foreign relations chops, and a moving personal story. Is Joe Biden near the top of Barack Obama's veep list?
No peace for Obama on Israel - He's facing nervous Jewish voters in Florida, attacks by Joe Lieberman and smear tactics in a political war that threatens his campaign.
A Georgia court this week halted construction of a new 1,200-megawatt coal-fired power plant on the Chattahoochee River, dubbed Longleaf, because backers failed to provide a plan to limit climate change–causing carbon dioxide emissions from it. [More]
FLORENCE, TEX.--"Look at that--isn't it gorgeous?" Sandy Peck asks as she rinses dirt from a flaked stone about the length and width of a pinky finger. Peck runs a hose over soil on a fine-mesh screen, prodding at stubborn clods of clay with a muddy glove. "Look, there's another one."
The first flyby of the planet Mercury in more than 30 years is resolving some long-standing puzzles about the closest planet to the sun. Among the findings: the planet's iron-rich core seems to be shrinking, causing its crust to buckle and crack. [More]
What makes the unique sound of a Stradivarius violin?The wood, of course. Using x-ray images taken from multiple different angles, radiologist Berend Stoel of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands proved that the spruce and maple wood used in five violins made either by Antonio Stradivari or Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù--the rival master luthiers of Cremona--had fewer variations in their density than that in seven contemporary violins. The density of the wood determines how a violin resonates with sound, which may explain why Stradivarius and Guarnerius violins are coveted by musicians worldwide and fetch prices of several million dollars. It may also allow modern instrument makers to finally match the perfection of past masters. [More]
In a major step toward controlling the spread of tree-destroying gypsy moths, China has agreed to allow scientists to inspect forests near shipping ports to gauge the risk of the pests there hitching rides on ships to the U.S.
ACLU Opens New South Carolina Office Today - CHARLESTON, SC ? The American Civil Liberties Union opened its new South Carolina Office today, marking the creation of a new and powerful voice on behalf of civil liberties across the state.
ACLU Releases Navy Files On Civilian Casualties In Iraq War - NEW YORK ? The American Civil Liberties Union today released thousands of pages of documents related to Navy investigations of civilians killed by Coalition Forces in Iraq, including the cousin of the Iraqi ambassador to the United States. Released today in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by the ACLU filed in June 2006, these records provide a vivid snapshot of the circumstances surrounding civilian deaths in Iraq.
ACLU to Mark One Millionth Addition to TSA Terrorist Watch List - WASHINGTON ? The American Civil Liberties Union will mark the addition of the one millionth name to the Transportation Security Administration?s (TSA) terrorist watch list in a July 14th Press Club event. The roll-over to one million confirms the warnings the ACLU has been making for years: the TSA is pinning American security on a system of watch lists that are bloated, inefficient, ineffective and unfair.
ACLU And EFF Sue Justice Department To Uncover Records Of Cell Phone Tracking - WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a lawsuit today urging a federal court to order the Department of Justice (DOJ) to turn over records related to the government's use of people's cell phones as tracking devices. The ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the records in November 2007 following revelations that federal officials are using Americans' cell phones to pinpoint their locations, sometimes without a warrant or any court oversight. The DOJ has failed to release the documents or provide an adequate response to the request.
ACLU Reacts to DHS OIG Report on ICE Detainee Deaths and Medical Care - Washington, DC ? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reacts to the release of the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General?s report, ?ICE Policies Related to Detainee Deaths and the Oversight of Immigration Detention Facilities.? The report examines two of the 33 detainee deaths reported between January 1, 2005 and May 31, 2007 and DHS?s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) standards related to detainee deaths and the medical treatment of immigration detainees.