Eau Claire

[mastein]

Hi,

We just moved to Eau Claire from northern VA near DC. (See my posts in the Virginia section, if you want to know more about me) and I was hoping to get the lay of the political landscape around here. We moved here because I got a job with the Federal Government (yeah, go figure I had to move OUT of the DC area to get a a federal job.) Anyway, I am curious to know about the local political actors and issues on all sides.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

[MadAsHell]

1. Just a few thoughts ...

Starting with a few resources for you ...


The Wheeler Report website is a collection of the press releases and news items of all flavors of Wisconsin's politicos and organizations.

http://thewheelerreport.com/

Former Assemblyman Joe Plouff has started a working group and website to "promote democratic ideals and social justice by providing information, opinion, analysis and a forum for developing progressive ideas."

http://progressivemessengers.com/

The ACLU has a chapter in Eau Claire that meets fairly regularly. They pushed through a resolution against the Patriot Act a year or so ago.

You might also want to take a look at www.fightingbob.com.


Eau Claire and Chippewa County Democratic Parties both have offices in their respective communities. You can find contact information at www.wisdems.org under "County Parties".

However now that you have moved into western Wisconsin, by far the most important decision you will have to make hand downs. This one decision will determine the future wellbeing of generations of your family. We are talking stop the Earth from rotating, social outcast, never able to go out public without a mask BIG ...

Are you a Glorious Green Bay fan or one of those traitorous no-account western Wisconsin Vikings Fans ... And don't even think about bringing one of those coastal teams in here. And Dallas fans usually just disappear quietly... Oh and the Bears Still Suck ...

Just kidding, you can support any team you want so long as nobody ever finds out!

Oh, Welcome to Wisconsin ...

[sybylla]

3. Other websites of interest

http://www.wpr.org
Wisconsin has a strong public radio network. And though some of us have a huge problem with the bias on certain programs, I would recommend public radio as a good place to learn about the latest issues and what is being said on both sides. You can accesss streaming audio through this website or you will find public radio stations on your dial between 88 and 99 on your FM dial in between all the religious stations. The WPR station out of Memonomie also offers good regional programming that doesn't appear on the website.

http://www.wispolitics.com
WisPolitics.com offers all the political news and resources you can find at the WheelerReport.com but in a bit more accessible, searchable way. You may find you prefer this site.

http://www.cows.org
The Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) calls itself "a 'think-and-do tank' dedicated to improving economic performance and living standards in the state of Wisconsin and nationally." You can find loads of demographic information and research on the state of living in Wisconsin. They spend a fair amount of their time conducting research that refutes pubie talking points so it's a good resource for that kind of thing.

http://www.highroadnow.org
ALICE - the high road service center is an off shoot of COWS. They use the products of the research to justify taking the high road - hence its name. You can find some amazing stuff poking around these two websites.

http://commoncause.sitemanager.ims.net
Common Cause is a bi-partisan political watchdog group working for "state and federal campaign finance reform, lobbying reform, and for open, accountable government." They do good work and are truly bi-partisan/non-partisan when it comes to getting their job done. Consider supporting them with a membership if you can. They send out regular newsletters and this website is a great source of information on what's wrong in Wisconsin politics.

http://www.themadisoninstitute.org
The Madison Institute offers interesting programs on liberal/progressive issues. All of them are in Madison, but that's at worst a 2.5 hour drive from Eau Claire. Maybe you'll see something on their agenda to draw you out of your house on a cold Saturday.

http://www.wisconsinsfuture.org
The Institute for Wisconsin's Future conducts policy research in the public interest and has interesting articles discussing current issues in Wisconsin.

http://www.wisdc.org
According to their website, The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign is "a nonpartisan political watchdog group working for clean government and real democracy." This is where you go to find out who contributed to your state candidates, who's taking money from places where they shouldn't. Like Common Cause, they work toward campaign finance reform, but they also work toward keeping our elections out of the hands of Diebold and other corporate and political interests. They also work with FightingBob.org to put on The People's Legislature at various times as well as Fighting Bob Fest every September in Baraboo.

http://www.wistax.org
The Wisconsin Taxpayers Aliance says they are dedicated to achieving efficient, responsive government through research and education. Though sometimes they seem to be more of a "we're paying too much tax" organization, you can find a fair amount of information on how our state and local governments work in Wisconsin. They are very good at providing a great deal of background on hot and not so hot issues.

http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com
The Progressive Patriot Fund is Russ Feingold's baby set up on the order of Democracy For America. I include this here as more of an FYI than anything else.

http://www.wegrokit.com/woodlandwib
Wodland Women in Black is a regional peace organization. They meet quite regularly in the Eau Claire area. If you or your spouse are interested in attending peace vigils or showing your support, contact them for more information.

There is also an organization called the Chippewa Valley Progressives. They don't have a website, but they have meetings and keep in touch through an exclusive Yahoo Group. When I get a notice of their next meeting, I'll pm you. You may also find notices of the meeting posted about town or at the library, where they get together.

[sybylla]

2. Welcome, mastein

We only have a couple of DUers from the Chippewa Valley (your area) and the weeks before x-mas this place is very slow so I'll see if I can add a few things to what MadAsHell already said.

This coming spring we will have elections for non-partisan political office with primaries in Feburary and elections in the spring. Someone at your county party office should be able to fill you in to some degree on county party politics. Failing that, visit the county clerk at the county courthouse in Eau Claire for details.

In the fall, we have our partisan primaries in September and election in November for county and state offices including the Governor.

As for state legislators, regardless on which side of Eau Claire you live, you likely are currently represented by republicans. Either Rep. Terry Moulton in the 68th Assembly district (north side) or Rep. Rob Kreibich in the 93rd assembly district (south side) and in the senate either Dave Zien in the 23rd district (north side) or Ron Brown in the 31st district (south side). If you get to the Dem party headquarters, someone with the party should be able to send to you information on your districts and representatives.

Now don't let the fact that you're represented by pubies scare you. The Chippewa Valley tends to be fairly liberal. Three factors play heavily in this twisted representation: well-gerrymandered districts, soft-headed media and an abandonment of rural political issues by the Dem party. MadAsHell and I live in the county to the east of you and are also in Dave Zien's district. He's a gun-totting, concealed-carry, flag-waving, NRA-supporting Vietnam vet who rides a harley everywhere and quite regularly comes across as either insane or a complete idiot. Last election season his favorite thing to do at parades and the like was to hand out rocks. :crazy: But he gets reelected because of the above three reasons - and because we have a strong tradition in this state of sticking with the incumbent no matter how insane as long as he/she isn't breaking the law.

The good news is the Dems have a wonderful candidate who began his campaign in October. Pat Kreitlow is a former news anchor at one of Eau Claire's tv stations. He wasn't just a talking head. He clearly knows his stuff and realized he needed to begin his campaign early. The pubies will spend a load of money on this district, Zien already has far more money than should ever be spent on a senate race, but Kreitlow has an excellent chance.

Anyway, that's just one of the senate/assembly races taking place in your area next year. If you have time to get involved in campaigns, there will be plenty of opportunity this coming year to get your feet wet in Wisconsin politics.

Governor Doyle is a Democrat, fortunately, as he is the only check on our two republican-controlled houses. He was our AG before becoming governor and seemed rather populist. As governor, he is much more centrist (corporation friendly), but isn't afraid to stand his ground against the pukes. If we reelect him and can give him a Dem house this fall, we may see him swing back a bit more left.

Unless you live a fair distance north of Eau Claire, your Federal reps are Rep. Ron Kind (3rd district), Sen. Russ Feingold and Sen. Herb Kohl - all Dems.

Ron Kind is a parttime DLCer who voted for the Iraq war (which he publically regretted rather early on to his credit) and a few other things he shouldn't have, but he is generally a good Dem.

Herb Kohl is up for election this year. Like our governor, Kohl is a bit corporate friendly. Apparently the pubies are puting their money elsewhere as he appears to have no solid challenger at this late date. Kohl is a brazillionaire bachelor and spends wads on every election. The pubies can't outspend him. His strong poll numbers have barely budged in the 17 years he's held the office in spite of the pubies running nasty candidates against him and their rumor mill pumping out unsupported crap (gay, loves little boys, etc). What his campaign does do well, though, is get the Dem message out in the media. If Herb will spend the money this year, he should have decent coattails.

Now, if VA is not an open-primary state, you will find politics in Wisconsin a very different animal. We don't register by party. Your only affiliation with the party is through paid membership. The fee is small and is used to support political machinery at the state and local level. If you want to get involved in the workings of the party, you have to be a paid member. Wisconsin's Democratic Party is one of the more liberal, progressive organizations you will find and your membership will be well worth it if you lean in that direction. As a member you will have an opportunity to attend conventions as a delegate and that is where you can learn so much about party politics in this state as well as our representatives and candidates.

I'm sure if I missed anything, someone here will eventually amend the thread.

If you have any questions, post them here or pm me and I'd be happy to answer what I can.

[madrchsod]

4. welcome to the midwest and god`s country..

this spring get in your vehicle and drive south along the great river road
http://www.wigreatriverroad.org/aboutus/index.htm
in fact you drive south then cross the river and drive north along the iowa- minnesota side.
explore wisconsin is an apt phrase...i have been exploring wisconsin for over 35 years and i live in northern illinois. well northern illinois used to be part of wisconsin...

[ewagner]

5. Welcome to Wisconsin

If you're in the Eau Claire area you should be on the lookout for Jackpine Radicals I hear tell they run free and wild over there.... (look for jackpine radical's posts on DU)

Generally we have a good group in that area....

Oh yes, one thing Madashell didn't tell you...Bears fans have to travel by night and live off the land....it's safer that way.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. You rang?

Here I am as always, a week late & 3 bucks short.

PM me & we can meet for coffee at the Acoustic Cafe or somewhere.

[mastein]

6. Thanks

And I have to admit that I grew up 12 miles due west of Lake Forest, and got to know several of the guys who were on the winning side of Super XX. So, at least for this year I am wearing the Midnight Blue and Orange proudly... I am also an Iowa Hawkeye (class of 94 BS, and 97 MS, respectively). Talk about being displaced.

But seriously, Thank you all for the wonderful information. I haven't had time to go through it all, but it looks like good, well thought out stuff that I can use to at least get up to speed on the local going's on.

Best regards,
Matt

[Sabien]

7. Dave Zein...

...is the local nutjob that rides his harley on the taxpayers dime. Also, former local newscaster who thinks he knows everything (Rob Kreibach) wants to get on the UW-System board of regents.

Eau Claire's got a nice public library and bike trail downtown if you're into that kind of thing.