Wineke: Democracy can’t work without process
Sometimes I wonder if anyone other than President Biden and a few legislators still have faith in the democratic process.
Bill Wineke
Wineke: Olga Kern wows MSO audience again
As I read through the program notes for the weekend Madison Symphony Orchestra concerts, it struck me that the commentaries J. Michael Allsen writes for each performance are almost as much a part of the enjoyment as the concerts themselves.
Bill Wineke: Captain Kirk Inspires Anew
When I learned that billionaire Jeff Bezos was planning to shoot Captain Kirk into space, I thought it was one of the dumbest publicity stunts of the year. William Shatner, the star of the original Star Trek television series, is…
Wineke: The blind seek to lead the blind
MADISON, Wis. -- This is an actual quote from the man Wisconsin has hired to investigate claims of fraud in the last election: “Most people, myself included, do not have a comprehensive understanding, or even any understanding, of how elections…
Wineke: Happy, masked crowd returns to the MSO
One of the nicest things about the Madison Symphony Orchestra is that it is pretty easy to feel among friends when one attends a concert.
Wineke: Our Legislature in action: telling schools what not to teach
In case you were wondering what your state legislators have been up to, this week they're considering telling schools they can't teach students about racism. It's part of a nationwide Republican effort to link schools to something called “Critical Race…
Wineke: What would a “successful” Afghanistan withdrawal look like?
MADISON, Wis. -- It's pretty much official that the American withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years was “botched.” Virtually every newspaper account, television account, and pundit account use “botched” as a prefix for the withdrawal. To be honest, the scenes…
Wineke: The insurrection is not over
We talk about the Jan. 6 attack on our nation’s Capitol as if it was “over.” It’s not.
Wineke: Robin joins the insurrection
This is what I read from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on the front page of this morning’s paper: “It was an honor to be invited to travel by private plane with President Trump and top staff to attend his rally in Alabama.”
Wineke: Was the war worth it? We don't know
The easy answer is “no.” I think the more accurate answer is that the assessment depends on what we mean by “worth.”
Where did Wisconsin go wrong?
Wisconsin was once such a good state.
Wineke: Is Nancy Pelosi the Jan. 6 villain?
The House of Representatives has begun its hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection at the nation’s Capitol and Republicans in Congress have found their villain: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Is the Trump cult becoming a death cult?
At some point you’d think that the morning headlines would become less shocking.
Wineke: Are you a fool for paying taxes?
About 12 years ago, I decided I needed the help of an accountant to figure out my taxes.
Wineke: Now they're undermining the military
A democracy can flourish only if the people trust their institutions.
Wineke: Manchin is assailed, but he is right
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin says he will not vote for the For the People voting rights act nor will he vote to end the filibuster, and that has liberal Democrats enraged.
Wineke: Why punish the unemployed?
It's becoming official in business group circles: Wisconsin can't find enough workers and the reason is we're too generous to the unemployed.
Wineke: The GOP is building a mosaic of distrust
Democracy is always under fire and we've lived through a lot of challenges throughout our history. Some, like the McCarthyism of the 1950s, had its roots right here in Wisconsin.
Wineke: Is this really your definition of a leader?
As expected, the Republicans in Congress have dumped Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney from her number three position in the GOP hierarchy.
Wineke: Minority “Leader” McConnell won’t lead
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was asked the other day about the way Donald Trump is trying to purge the Republican Party of its leadership ranks.
Wineke: Was Jan. 6 worse than 9/11?
The right-wing websites that call me a “patriot” were brimming with glee this morning because of a major gaffe in President Biden's speech before Congress Wednesday.
Florida Opposes Riots, Encourages Vehicle Homicide
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is proud of the legislation he just signed making riots illegal.
Republicans' newest target? Big business
Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell is threatening corporations that don't support his party's nationwide effort to curb voting rights with “consequences.”
Wineke: As Georgia goes...?
You have to hand it to Georgia Republicans: When they decide to go full-fascist they don't fool around.
