Monday musings: Business as usual,Hiding the truth, starving the poor

Musings on a Monday morning:

Does this answer your questions? Well, no actually. Waukesha Exec Dan Vrakas tries again on the Jenifer Finley story, to no avail.

Scooter, pack your toothbrush. Amidst speculation that one of the defendants may turn state's witness, a judge refuses to dismiss corruption charges against State Rep. Scott Jensen (R-Not Convicted) and three other Republicans. Democrats Brian Burke and Chuck Chvala both have gotten jail terms on felony convictions for misconduct in office. Is Scooter next?

All in favor bend over. Newsroom employes of the Journal Sentinel, represented by the Newspaper Guild, have approved a new contract that represents a net loss over the next three years. The preliminary vote was 110-23 with 16 absentee ballots still to be counted.

Working at home. State Sen. Dave Zien, notorious for riding his Harley all over the district, has decided to let his constituents come to him, announcing office hours at his home. Apparently, in the holiday spirit, he will forego either mileage reimbursement or per diem for one day. If you have any guns to sell or swap, bring them along, too.

Starving and freezing the poor. The Bush administration has refused to consider the high costs of home heating this winter and factor that into food stamp allowances for poor families, although the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says that's the way it is supposed to work. Would you rather have your kids freeze or go hungry? Why should anyone have to make that choice?

Courage has a nice ring to it. Russ Feingold has announced which Congressional candidate will get the first $5,000 contribution from his Progressive Patriots Fund, and the name is Courage.

Scary thought. Jim Brooks of The Happy Circumstance passes on this pearl of wisdom from comedian Chad Daniels: "Packer fans are like Al-Qaeda, there are two or three in every city in America."

Let the crusade begin. Fox declares war on American heathens -- and that means Unitarians, too -- just in time for the "holiday" season.Paul Soglin has the exclusive. (Who else would Fox tell?)

The Sensenbrenner Wall of Shame. New York Daily News columnist Albor Ruiz says the 700-mile wall the US will build, under the leadership of Rep. F. Jim Sensenbrenner, is not exactly a symbol of freedom.