The Intimidation Spreads

E-mail trolling linked to freedom of information requests is apparently becoming a method of intimidation for some Republicans.

A free enterprise think tank in Michigan -- backed by some of the biggest names in national conservative donor circles -- has made a broad public records request to at least three in-state universities with departments that specialize in the study of labor relations, seeking all their emails regarding the union battle in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, TPM has learned. . . . [more]

Evan McMorris-Santoro, "Conservative Think Tank Seeks Michigan Seeks Michigan Profs' Emails about Wisconsin Union Battle . . . and Maddow," Talking Points Memo, 29 March 2011.

A Fish Named Badger

Stanley Fish in the Times:

In over 35 years of friendship and conversation, Walter Michaels and I have disagreed on only two things, and one of them was faculty and graduate student unionization. He has always been for and I had always been against. I say “had” because I recently flipped and what flipped me, pure and simple, was Wisconsin. . . . We are all badgers now. . . .

Stanley Fish, "We're All Badgers Now," New York Times, 22 March 2011.

Tourism -- Go Somewhere Else

Thanks to the tourism industry and the spirits of journalism for Gail Collins and "Come Visit. Life Life. Eat Cheese." New York Times, 25 April 2009, in which Collins explains how, "in 1985, Gov. Anthony Earl of Wisconsin decided “America’s Dairyland” was boring and sponsored a contest for a new state slogan, which drew an avalanche of suggestions. A screening committee declined to consider the popular favorite: “Eat Cheese or Die.” I truly believe that nothing has gone right for Wisconsin on the slogan front ever since."