Liberals killin democracy
Democracy in America is dying because it is a system that relies on the participation of the electorate. If the electorate is too vocal and active however, then liberals may have to pass laws that decrease their comfort and wealth, they may have to enact policies that could even cost them their donors, cushy do-nothing jobs, and friendships with republicans.
Wisconsin’s Weird Batch of Republican Hopefuls
From stopping webinars and keeping kids from having free bikes, to banning abortion, and attacking trans folks; the Republicans running for Assembly are as weird and fascist as ever. We must keep these weirdos out and turn the Assembly blue!
Democrats Do Refuse to Follow Fascist Laws
Sometimes all you need to do with a bad law is ignore it –pretend it doesn’t exist, and its power might just go away. Often this is as simple as jaywalking across a badly designed street, but it can also be done with something as seemingly toothy as a commandment from the state legislature and Governor Tony Evers.
This edition:
Democrats Do Refuse to Follow Fascist Laws
Democrats Don’t Commit Fraud (Again!) for Charter Schools
Re- introducing Milwaukee Beagle
Welcome to Milwaukee Beagle! We know we have a number of new followers, so we want to reintroduce ourselves. At its core, Milwaukee Beagle is a political media project that sniffs out corruption, detects money in politics, and holds public officials accountable. In our writing we don’t hide our opinions, but our opinions are informed by facts. And we are looking to grow!
Primary Debrief
We are excited about what the future holds. Whether its Ryan Clancy’s defense of his seat and Wisconsin Assembly’s socialist caucus, to Nate Kieso’s near victory in a three way race, to Deisy Espana and Amillia Heredia’s raising issues and elevating unheard residents, each of them ran hard and made a difference.
Not all Democrats are the same
There are two very different types of Democrats in Milwaukee politics. Corporate and Populist. Corporate Democrats' policies usually profit, or at least do not upset the interests financially backing them. Populist Democrats instead seek deep systemic change. They prioritize results and real impact over appearing ‘bipartisan.’ Taking power away from private interests and returning it to the general public is their driving motivation.
Left-Wing Populism Defeats Fascism
Milwaukee Beagle supports left-wing populists, a modern People’s Party. We want a world where everyone can live full lives and no one hoards wealth. People are upset with the status quo. Capitalism is failing us. A left-wing populism that unites all working class folks against the wealthy is the only way we can beat fascist right-wing populism and make a better world for us all.
We did it!
On Tuesday we showed that Milwaukee remembers the bright spots in our socialist history. Milwaukee loves grounded, rough-edged, non-conformists. This is a rusty union town, a place where people don’t just make money, trade status, and grind through life. Milwaukee is a place where people live, and party, and fight, and laugh. Where we assert and defend ourselves, instead of submitting before the machines of racial capitalism and bipartisan compromise.
Some Republicans are trying to buy Democrat Primaries
$42,114 of this Republican dark money went against Ryan Clancy in the district 19 race. McGowan and friends took a page out of the playbook pro-genocide Zionists used on Jamal Bowman and Cori Bush: dropping massive cash (nearly double what Clancy’s opponent previously spent) on mailers late in the race, making it difficult to effectively respond or expose the money’s source.
Campaign Spotlight: Assembly District 14
Nate Kieso, Brady Coulthard, and Angelito Tenorio are the three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in Assembly District 14 in the upcoming primary on Tuesday, August 13th. While not every Democratic race can be clearly split into an establishment Democrat vs an actual progressive, working class candidate, in this case, the contrast between Kieso and his opponents –in particular, Coulthard– is clear.
Campaign spotlight: Assembly district 11
“This is not just a title for me. This, for me, is a way to push the community forward. People are dying, people are being harmed. We're losing people every single day. I don't want my community, District 11, the Northwest side, or the State of Wisconsin, to continue to feel like that is okay or that is normal.” - Amillia Heredia, candidate for district 11
Campaign Spotlight: Assembly District 8
In Milwaukee’s South Side Assembly District 8, candidate Enrique Murguia is running to unseat current Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez. The facts of Ortiz-Velez’s voting record and campaign contributions present some glaring red flags. All things considered it is clear that District 8 needs new representation.
Jarrod Anderson is Hiding Something
Amid all this noise about Clancy’s loyalty, no one has publicly examined Anderson on the same grounds. Let’s try that now: loyal Democrats vote, and Anderson doesn’t. Well, that was easy.
But maybe… is there more?
Ryan Clancy is Under Attack
We’re not sure what will happen. Clancy’s campaign is sending large groups of volunteers to canvas. At the same time, Brostoff is leveraging his reputation to flip voters against Clancy and we’re seeing expensive mailers for his opponent, paid for by dark money groups.
Campaign Spotlight: Assembly District 9
While Milwaukee Beagle does not endorse candidates, we also do not shy away from having opinions. Not every Democratic race can be clearly split into a Corporate Democrat vs an actual progressive candidate, in this case, the contrast between District 9 candidates Priscilla A. Prado and Deisy España could not be starker. The establishment is on the side of Prado and true progressives have backed España.
Democrats Do Vote, Jarrod Anderson Doesn’t
If “frequently votes for Democrats” is the qualification, Wisconsin Assembly District 19 candidate Jarrod Anderson isn’t much of a Democrat at all.
‘Landlord-Democrats’ Are Right Wingers Who Hate the Left
Landlord Dems now run our city. Having inherited power over a de-industrialized wasteland, they imagine they can build a professionalized economy of real estate, finance, and insurance - downtown, of course, and in areas being gentrified.
The RNC is Over But the Fight is Just Beginning
As Milwaukee Beagle has said since our beginning, the RNC was not the overwhelmingly positive experience that Mayor Johnson and Visit Milwaukee sold it to us as. Economic underpromises aside, we must also discuss the violence of cops and Republicans. Despite the efforts to chill free speech, folks were able to rally in resistance. The RNC is behind us and now the real fight to keep the fascists out of office begins.
Milwaukee’s Pro-Genocide Backlash
Palestinian solidarity activists in Milwaukee have been threatened, spat on, and subject to trespassing and vandalism in their homes. Five of them were beaten, restrained and dragged into custody by police. Some Zionists even went to Marquette under the cover of darkness and armed with a pistol to desecrate a Palestinian memorial.
Democrats don’t make excuses for killer cops
Everyone with a brain and a heart knew that inviting the Republican National Convention to Milwaukee was a bad idea. We were promised an economic boon and safety (for the fascist attendees, at least.) We’ve gotten shuttered stores and put up checkpoints out of a shitty World War II film. And now a loved and well-known member of our community is dead – at the hand of out-of-state police who shouldn’t be “working” outside of the state-mandated “safety zone.”