60 Minutes: This Wisconsin county has backed the winning presidential candidate for the last 6 elections

 

[VIDEO] Door County, Wisconsin right at the top of the eastern peninsula of the state. This county could "decide" the the next P.O.T.U.S. And Wisconsin is a battleground state.

In the 2016 election Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania made the difference and handed the 46th P.O.T.U.S. Donald Trump the White House. Those states proved pivotal for Joe Biden in 2020 where he was elected the 47th P.O.T.U.S. and he effectively flipped those states back to blue. Oh yeah let's not forget nominally these are often blue states. Perhaps Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are more purple than blue.

And also add that 2016 and 2020 the results in those elections for President were very close. Narrow margins and in 2020 certainly in Detroit, MI or Philadelphia, PA there were allegations of "voter fraud".

Regardless, whether you vote early or wait for election day next month vote. Make sure it counts, the race shouldn't just be "decided" by one county in the whole nation! 

Peter Santenenllo: America's Underdog City

 

[VIDEO] Good afternoon and happy Veteran's Day.

I'm semi familiar with Milwaukee, Wisconsin having visited relatives up there over the years. Can't say that we've had the opportunity to really look around that great city. I almost consider that city Chicago's cousin. Both cities lie on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Milwaukee is a large city that has issues like many others. They have issues of crime and of course economic development. There are issues that involve race and one word that comes from that is "redlining" where you will have difficulty getting loans not exactly based on race, but where you reside.

We see Peter Santenello go around Milwaukee and meet some of its people with Fred who runs 414Milwaukee.com which is a merch site. We see the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly the same thing most cities have. It's great to see them make plans for an outdoor soccer stadium within the city.

Just a fascinating look about a city I've visited a number of times in the past.

BTW, who knows about the St. Joan of Arc Chapel located on the campus of Milwaukee's Marquette University which was dismantled in France and brought to Milwaukee to be rebuilt there.

Lord Spoda: Milwaukee is the Midwest coolest city

 

[VIDEO] One of my more recent favorites on YouTube recently. Lord Spoda takes his wife and us on a journey across the United States of America in their Ford Bronco. Going along backroads and sometimes going into some of America's largest cities.

Most recently he took a trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming which you can view here.

Back in May of this year he visited our neighbors in the northern state I like to call Dairyland although the actual name is Wisconsin. He visits the city of Milwaukee which he refers to as the Midwest's coolest city. However, aside from a lower standard of living compared to Chicago  and of course the festivals you might hear of issues of reckless drivers, petty crime, lower wages, terrible public transit, or even terrible public education.

After spending time in Milwaukee, then then visit the Wisconsin state capital of Madison, Wisconsion. His wife has a state capitol passport which she gets stamped once she makes a visit. Perhaps time for me to get one at least to say I visited the state capitol in Springfield.

Anyway, if you have 25 minutes to watch this on your hopefully restful Sunday.

Culture Wars: Wisconsin vs. Illinois

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I wanted to share this classic from the former NBC Chicago blog The Ward Room. Ten years ago Wisconsin was a bit of a hot bed under a newly minted Republican Governor Scott Walker who wanted to break the power of the public employee unions. There were protest outside of his house and in 2018 after two full terms Gov. Walker was defeated by current Governor Tony Evers.

Evers seems poised to be a one-term Governor however the election is only next year and time will tell on that.

Anyway in a post written by Edward McClelland he tells the differences in philosophy between governing Wisconsin vs governing Illinois. Two neighboring Midwestern states and two different states of minds.

Wisconsin is renowned for its German culture, but it’s important to understand the type of Germans that settled there. The first German settlers were fleeing from the Revolution of 1848, which attempted to establish a republic with free speech, trial by jury and freedom of the press. After it failed, the rebels needed a place to hide. They chose Wisconsin. As a result, Wisconsin became an innovator in progressive reforms: the “Wisconsin Idea” championed public education and workers’ compensation. Wisconsin was the first state with a public radio station, the first state with a presidential primary, and it abolished the death penalty in 1853.

Chicago, on the other hand, was settled by people looking to make a killing in the fur trade, or in real estate. Our very first mayor, William Ogden, arrived here from New York to sell some land that belonged to his brother-in-law. From then, Chicago attracted men who were trying to Make It Big, from Cyrus McCormick to Al Capone. With all that money flowing, the politicians had their hands out, too. “Good government,” a cherished tradition in Wisconsin, was a dirty term in Illinois, because it interrupted the orderly flow of cash between business and politics. Illinois politics was never about advancing ideals. It was about getting jobs and contracts for your friends, family members and campaign contributors.

While Wisconsin’s revolutionary instincts have usually been directed toward progressive reforms, they’ve also advanced conservative causes, if the political winds are blowing in that direction. We saw that with Sen. Joe McCarthy. We’re seeing it again with Gov. Scott Walker. That’s why Madison is in chaos, and Springfield is still a place where the House Speaker’s son-in-law gets a six-figure job as a lobbyist for a state agency.

That would never happen in Wisconsin.

Hmmm, I still think this analysis is interesting. And the corruption issue not directly said in this posting from a decade ago is still something of a factor in Illinois. Especially Chicago where some Aldermen and other politicos have gotten in trouble for issues related to corruption especially bribery. 

This has been the latest edition of the Shedd School of Political Science.

Geography King: Geographic profile of Wisconsin

 

[VIDEO] This video is about two days old and I figure this is a blog of learning just as much as it is anything else so how about a geography blog this morning.

I like to call Wisconsin dairyland and as I'm watching this video that hasn't come up yet. Wisconsin has been known for dairy such as milk or cheese. However, noted in this video is how general manufacturing is a major part of Wisconsin's economy.

As I share this Geography King is talking about some of the state's largest cities such as Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, Fond du Lac, Racine, and Kenosha (hard hit by rioting last summer).

I'm somewhat familiar with Milwaukee as I've got distant relatives there. I haven't visited with them for many years, however, I knew what part of town they lived on and it could be somewhat comparable to some neighborhoods in Chicago. I've always viewed Milwaukee as a nice city with a nice lakefront.

Outside of Kenosha were outlet malls that I used to often visit. The last time I was there, the Pleasant Prairie Outlet mall had significantly expanded.

I hope you learn something new about our neighbors to the north.