Frank Zeidler, Milwaukee mayor from 1948-'60, dies

I awoke this morning to the news that Frank Zeidler died yesterday at age 93. I met him in 1992 at the Hotel Wisconsin in Milwaukee, at the SPUSA National Convention. He helped me refine a motion I was trying to get passed, something about supporting Marty Russo's (D-IL) proposal for a national health care system. I'm so honored to have met him. Every year since, we would exchange Christmas cards; I saved every one. I loved him as a comrade, and will never forget him.

This is the obit from the Boston Globe.

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Frank Zeidler, 93, former mayor of Milwaukee

By Colin Fly, Associated Press | July 9, 2006

MILWAUKEE -- Frank Zeidler, a former Milwaukee mayor who was the last Socialist to run a major American city, has died. He was 93.

Mr. Zeidler died late Friday of congestive heart failure and diverticulitis, hospital spokesman Gregg Hartzog said. He led Milwaukee from 1948 through 1960.

Born in Milwaukee on Sept. 20, 1912, Mr. Zeidler was part of the Socialist Party's city stronghold, which was fueled by German immigrants who flocked there. The party had thousands of members, a congressional seat, and control of the mayor's office for nearly a half-century, ending with Mr. Zeidler.

``Historians described him in the tradition of Milwaukee's sewer socialists," said Mr. Zeidler's youngest daughter, Jeanne, who followed her father into politics and is mayor of Williamsburg, Va.

``They were community leaders, mayors of Milwaukee who thought everyone should have access to plumbing in their homes," she said. ``But he also had a bigger vision than that. He really was an activist of world peace, of tolerance, of people working together."

His three terms as mayor were marked by large-scale construction of public housing, creation of the first educational television station in Wisconsin, and city beautification programs. He also made strong statements on behalf of civil rights as Milwaukee became the 11th-largest city in the United States by the end of his term, Jeanne Zeidler said.

Mr. Zeidler said the word ``socialism" was discredited when Stalin and Hitler used it in their rhetoric. Still, he remained an ardent Socialist until his death, serving as chairman of the national Socialist party, even as numbers dwindled.

He never moved from the house he owned before being elected mayor, an office he retired from.

Mr. Zeidler wrote a 1,022-page manuscript in 1962 called ``A Liberal in City Government" that was a memoir and a reflection on municipal government. It was finally published last year.

``I thought I would discharge the contents of my mind," he said of his work.

Mr. Zeidler ran for president unsuccessfully in 1976.

Draw It Mild, Chavez...You're Dealing With A Maniac

Ah, Venezuela...sweet, sweet Venezuela. If you know me well enough, or have simply been in one of the online discussion groups that I lovingly frequent, you probably know that I'm quite the fan of President Hugo Chavez. Naturally, he is far from perfect, and does a lot of things that worry me, but I can't help but admire him. Because of him and his "Bolivarian Revolution," billions of dollars now flow into the Venezuelan economy instead of into the pockets of a few capitalists. The nationalization of the oil industry in Venezuela via the Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) is an attractive socialist model...it turns me on. And I also have a thing for funding massive social welfare projects, from literacy prgrams to health care clinics (with help from Cuban doctors) to improved housing and infrastructure.

But Chavez can be a tricky guy to embrace, especially for a peacenik lefty like me. I don't think he cares, and I know not the subtlies of running a country in the midst of a economic and social revolution. Who am I to judge him? Still, I wish he would stop with all the "we will crush you if you fuck with us" military talk. Again, if I were him, I'd probably be paranoid about a U.S. invasion (we have a bad reputation). But posing with Kalashnikov? What the fuck!

For those of you who don't know, Mikhail Kalashnikov is the designer of the infamous Kalashnikov series of guns, including the AK-47. Every single bad guy in every spy movie made during the Cold War at one time or another brandished an AK-47 menacingly at the hero. It's the most popular assault weapon in the world, and is still prized by anyone trying to kill large numbers of people. And from what I understand, they're a good bargain.

Chavez, in an attempt to bulk-up the military of Venezuela, has purchased 100,000 AK-103 guns from Russia. They've also picked up some other toys, jets and things, and the Russians and Chinese are more than happy to sell the oil rich Venezuelans anything they want. Washington protests, and Chavez tells them to screw. I would, too. What moral high ground could we possibly take here? I don't think I have to point out that the U.S. spends more on her military than every other country in the world combined. Well, I guess I just did.

Today is Independence Day in Venezuela, and they like fireworks and military displays almost as much as we do. Amidst all this, Chavez pointed out that "Venezuela is not preparing to invade anybody. But nobody mess with us, because we are ready to die to safeguard the sovereignty of this land." Fair enough.

Unfortunately, this sort of thing provides mucho ammunition to Fox News, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and the Topeka Sun. They paint him as some sort of dangerous "left-wing dictator" that is trying to take over the world, control oil and natural gas supplies, make friends with China and engage in militaristic displays. Actually, none of that is a problem if it's done by a right-wing dictator. What they are really afraid of is Chavez' desire to fuel a socialist revolution with THEIR oil. People in South America are supposed to know that if oil is found, it has to be given to a gringo capitalist.

Basically, I still (heart) the Bolivarian Revolution. But I admit that I wish Chavez would tone it down a bit. If I find out that he's going to play the villain in the next 007 movie, then I know he's gone too far. But who among us could resist the temptation to antagonize the Bush Regime? Just be careful, comrade...the man in the White House is out of his fucking mind.

Baretta Had A Cockatoo? Yes, he did!

I'm about to go brush my teeth, and then walk over there and climb into bed. Toulouse, my cat, will curl up next to me and purr loudly. I'll grind my teeth and think about some embarrasing moments and some nasty experiences I've had. Shortly after that, I'll be overwhelmed with the feeling that I'm some sort of hideous abomination and that my friends just don't want to tell me. There will be terrible guilt, and then a feeling that something unpleasant is about to happen.

Because I took lorazepam, I'll get to sleep within an hour, instead of staying up all night in this state. But the nightmares of late have been so bad, you can't imagine. Or maybe you can, what do I know. Goodnight.

It's now 24 mintues after I wrote, "Goodnight." That's not really long enough to be a whole night, unless you're sleeping on Mercury or are a Chinese laborer or something. You know, because they work a lot and get very little sleep. My bed frightens me, though, so I'm trying to muster the courage to get under the covers. As I said before, I'm not fond of staring at the ceiling while feeling guilty about the time I stole a painting out of a hospital lobby. There are a lot of memories in there to make me feel stupid, guilty, retarded...the whole schlmiel.

But I have the 'net to keep me company. I'll post some ridiculous "facts" on Wikipedia, and "Google" images of skydiving naked women. With a computer in your boudoir, you never have to be alone or think an ugly thought...unless you want to. Although tonight, not even an idiot lighting farts is enough to distract me from the abyss.

Would somebody turn that music down?!?!??!

Star Jones To Lift Off, Despite Foam Loss

I saw the ad on the right in a The Boston Phoenix Erosphere, a place where people find each other for, you know, a good time. The first thing that comes to mind when I look at this ad, which is for a website where fellas can hook up, is that context is everything. Yes, a "hard man" can be a good thing within the context of a delightful sexual romp (four stars!). But a hard man is the last thing you want to find under your bed, or leering at you while Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida blares in the background. And such a man can blind a midget if he is not careful.

Actually, you never really want anyone leering at you.

Man, what a strange mood. I really have a lot to talk about tonight, as I enjoy talking to myself. For example, at some point I'm going to rave about how people on the left repeatedly make the mistake of underestimating the intelligence of right-wing bananas. We shouldn't do that. These are the people who successfully painted John Kerry as a coward and George Bush as a stalwart military leader. They're not stupid, they just have no moral scruples, dignity or compassion. They are also selectively ignorant, that's not the same as stupid. They just don't like to incorporate reality into their world-view...it irritates them. How else could you explain shock and awe or Intelligent Design? Or Ann Coulter, for that matter. If we're going to pry power away from these chickenhawk lunatics, we have to stop thinking of them as ignorant hicks.

So there's that. And this election in Mexico is pissing me off. And why is foam flying off the space shuttle? It's not even moving. And what's the deal with Star Jones? What did she do to become famous? While I'm flinging my opinions out into the zeitgeist, or amonst the zeitgeist, I'd like to make it known that I think Joe Lieberman of Connecticut is a total douchebag. Oh, and the chicken pot pie at Harrows' looks really good.

OK, I'll stifle.

Please Don't Take My Someday Away

I flipped open my Boston Globe and found this story, "In Somerville, Someday may be a memory - Regulars at the coffee shop in Davis Square express outrage." Yes, it looks like Someday Cafe, a place near and dear to me and most of my close friends, will be closing its doors in September to make way for Mr. Crepe. I assume it's a place that sells crepes.

This upsets me a lot...I have a lot of memories tied up in that place. It's a classic meeting and hanging out spot, a place that Clare, Melanie, Donna, Mary, Anne, Adam and I shared a cup of coffee or tea whilst hatching one plan or another. There's a regular cast of characters, a set of old but comfortable couches and chairs, and original art on the walls (for sale). The bathroom has graffiti literally from (an on) the floor to (and on) the ceiling. Best of all, though, is the people watching. Students, profs, yuppies, crazies, bums, artists, undefinables and canines converged at Someday in great numbers every morning and afternoon to get their fix.

Maybe this can be averted...I hope so.

In an attempt to get a chuckle, today's quote of the day is a classic from Independence Day: "You know they'll never let you fly the Space Shuttle if you're married to a stripper."