Recall Walker Countdown: "People Have the Power to Wrestle the World from Fools"

Love that sign. The wrestling match started last winter in the ice and snow (photo taken outside the Wisconsin State Capitol Feb. 26, 2011). Nine months later, the end game is in sight.

Return to Standard Time

What a difference an hour makes. The sun sets a lot earlier, and the darkness seems darker.

Recall Walker Countdown: Soon librarians and the rest of us thugs will have our say

Back last winter and spring, when many tens of thousands of Wisconsin people were coming to the Capitol to protest Scott Walker's union-busting budget "reform" bill, Walker's minions complained about the "union thugs" taking over the Capitol. I took this photo on March 5, 201 on the Capitol Square, and it's become one of my most-viewed photos on Flickr. Does she look like a thug to you? Yeah, me too. If she's a thug, sign me up. Last winter we protested with our feet. In just nine days, we'll be able to protest with our signatures on recall petitions.

Goodbye, Autumn's Golden Glory

Now that it's November, not many afternoons like this left. Wingra Park, Madison.

I made a lot of exposures with a 200mm lens trying different focal points in the slanting light of a windy late afternoon. This is one in which the combination of sharply focused leaves and out-of-focus leaves and grasses seemed to perfectly suggest that windy, autumnal rustle of the last leaves blowing away.

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.