Recall Walker Countdown: What Would Fighting Bob Do?

If you asked Fighting Bob about the Walker recall, he'd probably say something like, "This is what we designed the recall procedure for -- those unfortunate times when elected officials so abuse the public trust they're no longer fit to hold office until the next election. Go for it!"

Photo taken Feb. 25, 2011 in the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Autumn Blues Encroach on the Leaf Pile

Recall Walker Countdown: "We Are Wisconsin"

And we've had it.

(Photo: Wisconsin State Capitol Feb. 21, 2011.)

Recall Walker Countdown: Unions Raise Standards for All Workers

It's as true today as it was when I took this photo in the Wisconsin State Capitol Feb 18, 2011. Or, as Kevin Drum puts it in Mother Jones, Why Screwing Unions Screws the Entire Middle Class. Weaken unions, and living standards erode and the Democratic Party is forced to turn to other sources of money -- like Wall Street. Which is what Scott Walker's "budget repair bill" was all about. He would never have been elected if he had been open about his union-busting agenda, and that's why he needs to be recalled. 12 days and counting.

Recall Walker Countdown: Happy Birthday, Scott Walker!

A year ago you received the keys to the Governor's Mansion as a birthday present from Wisconsin voters. Since then, they seem to have had second thoughts. Sorry this year's present isn't ready quite yet, but you should get it soon. It suits you perfectly.

(Photo taken Feb. 26, 2011, Wisconsin State Capitol.)

Rainy Day at Occupy Madison

Day 27 of Occupy Madison is a dark, gloomy rainy November day, but that didn't do much to dampen their spirits. They apparently weathered a threat to shut them down because they didn't have a camping permit (local government agencies that didn't seem to be talking to each other) and had time to march to the Square in the rain, joined by some East High students, and stage an action against the banks.

Recall Walker Countdown: In 2 weeks Scott Walker begins learning that actions have consequences

Last November, the people of Wisconsin made a big mistake. There was Obama fatigue, people were unhappy about outgoing Governor Doyle and Tom Barrett ran an uninspired campaign. Too many people thought the Democrats were part of the problem and figured it doesn't make any difference anyhow. They found out. And by the time tens of thousands of people started assembling at the Capitol, more and more Wisconsonites realized they had made a mistake in November. This November -- in just 2 weeks -- they can start to fix it.

Photo taken in the Wisconsin State Capitol Feb. 17, 2011.

Recall Walker Countdown: "We Cannot Rest in Peace As Long As Scott Walker Walks All Over Wisconsin"

Photo taken at the Zombie Walk Against Walker, April 2, 2011, and this Halloween the Zombies' lament remains unchanged -- and shared by many people in Wisconsin. Starting in 15 days, will more than 540, 206 people sign their names to recall petitions to end this ghoulish state of affairs? You can help make sure that they do.

Happy Halloween!

This began as a photo I took five years ago with a 2mp Minolta Dimage X shooting through one eyepiece of my binoculars at Owen Park, Madison. The lens being recessed in the camera body behind a small window made it especially easy to hold the camera flush against the eyepiece. Bats and color tints added more recently. Happy Halloween!

Recall Walker Countdown: Walker is turning the working class into the walking dead

Photographed at the Zombia Walk Against Walker, April 2, 2011. Seems more seasonal now -- and more true than ever.

Occupy Madison Day 23: Settled in at their new, more permanent home at 800 E. Washington (old Don Miller lot)

Saturday was Day 23 of Occupy Madison. They're now in a more permanent home a short walk from the Capitol and actions in the downtown area -- including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerc, just up the road at 501 E. Washington. The place already has a lived-in look after a few days, and in the old Don Miller car lot they have much more visibility on a major thoroughfare. There's room to grow and for people to drop in. They're in it for the long haul. Like Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy movements it launched around the country and around the world, Occupy Madison is not going away -- no matter how much critics try to marginalize it. It's hard to marginalize people representing the other 99%. You can find out more at their website.

This is one of the things Occupy Madison was doing Saturday, along with the Clarence Kailin Chapter of Veterans for peace -- the solidarity march for Scott Olsen and Occupy Oakland. Scott Olsen is the Wisconsin Marine from Onalaska who was hit by a police projectile and suffered a skull fracture in the police assault on Occupy Oakland -- a more dangerous place for Scott Olsen than two tours of duty in Iraq. Olsen's injury and the brutality of police in Oakland against peaceful protesters exercising their First Amendment right to freedom of assembly has galvanized Occupy movements around the country.

Getting the woodpile ready for winter

This looks as if it's far from Madison, but actually it's on River Road just north of the city (geotagged, click on photo to see map in Flickr).