Lessons from Florida

Some observations from the results of yesterday's Florida primary:

• Rednecks Prefer Gingrich - "Gingrich managed to win more than 30 rural and Panhandle counties, and finished slightly ahead, 39-36, among voters who considered themselves evangelical or born-again."
• Negative Advertising Still Works - "The Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracked ads in Florida, told CNN that 99 percent of the 3,276 ads run by Romney's campaign were negative, as were all of the 4,969 ads run by Restore Our Future, the super PAC backing Romney. Gingrich ran far fewer ads – 1,012 by his campaign, almost all negative, and 1,893 paid for by his super PAC, Winning our Future, CMAG said. Of those, only 53 percent were negative."
• The Republican Party Is Over its Romance with the Tea Party - "Peter Lee of the East Side Tea Party of Orlando said the tea parties just could not support Romney, whom he said had not reached out to them. 'He's run his campaign as if he did not need us, and apparently he didn't,' Lee said."

Scott Walker: Clueless, Incompetent Manager

An official statement from Scott Walker's campaign organization claims: “The Milwaukee County Executive's Office expressed policy was that county employees were not permitted to use county time or resources to conduct any political activity. Scott Walker expected everyone to follow the law and made that clear publicly and privately.”  (h/t, Capper)

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe his claim. That means that several employees completely ignored their boss' clearly-expressed expectations and willfully violated his policies (and the law), while the boss remained blissfully ignorant.

It makes me wonder how well his current staff are following the laws and policies that are supposed to govern their conduct on the job. He seems to attract corrupt employees who take advantage of his easygoing, laissez-faire employment practices.

Gingrich Book Tour to Continue

Newt Gingrich's victory in the South Carolina primary means that he will continue his book tour (disguised as a presidential campaign) for at least another month.

Last year, most of his campaign staff resigned due to the candidate's refusal to actually attend campaign events (instead going on a cruise with his wife). He was unable to gather 10,000 valid signatures in the state of Virginia (where he resides) in order to get on that state's primary ballot, despite having paid canvassers to do so. In Wisconsin, half a dozen enthusiastic volunteers could get that many signatures in a single weekend. Clearly, this is not a serious campaign. However, it has helped Gingrich sell a lot of books, and it has ensured a few years of lucrative speaking fees, as well as a probable show on Fox News next year. That should pay his Tiffany's bills.

I wonder if Gingrich's major donors realize they are being suckered.

Batwoman Returns

Police broke up another parking lot fight overnight at the New Town Pub. Once again, there was a woman on the scene wielding a baseball bat. No word whether it was a pink, Barbie-themed bat.

Remembering Etta James

The great American vocalist, who straddled several genres, passed away at the age of 73.

Her voice was like hot chocolate with marshmallows on a cold winter night.

Equal Opportunity Violence on the West Side

Police were called to the New Town Pub overnight after a parking lot melee involving up to 20 women who had been bounced from the bar earlier. Once suspect was found in possession of two knives and a pink Barbie baseball bat.

Two victims received non-life-threatening stab wounds. Bats and sticks were also used, which seems to be a pattern among female bar hooligans in Madison.

On the New Season of The Kiln Hillbillies

Outgoing Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour handed out pardons like candy at a parade, and Brett's brother Earnest was among the lucky recipients. He'd already served his time for killing his best friend by drunkenly driving into a train, but now he can go hunting again. That is, assuming he published his pardon request on time.