From the Blogosphere: Highlights from Wisconsin's Top Political Bloggers

Lisa Mux, Waukesha Wonk
On the big lines at the grand opening of a new Costco store in Pewaukee

The patrons were excited to be waiting in line to spend their money at a business which will create sustainable jobs for our community, jobs that pay a living wage and benefits. They, too, couldn’t wait to ditch their memberships to that other warehouse store and were telling anyone who would listen.

The workers seemed grateful for that, and I heard a lot of heartfelt “thank yous” all around me. One employee, who currently pays $1,700 per month for COBRA, will be eligible for health insurance through Costco after six months of employment. She was proud to explain that even part-time employees are eligible for benefits.

A supervisor, who had worked in retail for more than 20 years, told me, “Costco saved my life.”

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Bill Christofferson, Uppity Wisconsin
On GOP lawmakers' 'extreme agenda' on guns

On the same day the new (concealed weapons) law takes effect, the Assembly will take up Assembly Bill 69, the so-called Castle Doctrine bill which essentially makes it legal to kill anyone who breaks into your house.     

No need for your life to be in danger. The presumption is that if someone has entered your property illegally, that you believed you needed to shoot to defend yourself, even if the person is unarmed and has not actually threatened you.  Nor is there any requirement that you try to get away, like going out the back door. Just aim and fire, knowing you'll be exonerated by the legal system.  (Can't bring myself to call if the justice system.)

The extremists who run the National Rifle Association and control the NRA board have a way of labeling things to make them sound more mainstream. "The Castle Doctrine" — a person's home is his castle, right?

License to Kill would be more accurate.

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Steve Carlson, Blogging Blue
On the possibility of former Democratic Congressman Dave Obey running for governor in a potential election

Ed Garvey wrote in a recent blog post that the rumor coming from Democratic Party of Wisconsin insiders is that Dave Obey is willing to run for governor unless there’s a primary. Upon reading Garvey's blog, an image of Brett Favre popped quickly into my head: an aging icon, ostensibly retired, who now wants back on the field uncontested. Sound familiar?

Maybe (State Democratic Party Chairman) Mike Tate should call Mike McCarthy for some advice on how to handle the matter? My hunch is that McCarthy would tell Tate to trade Obey to Minnesota for Mark Dayton. It’s hard to imagine Minnesota’s DFL approving such a trade, but there’s no doubt the Vikings would pick Obey up and start him.

We need the closest thing we have to Aaron Rodgers to defeat Walker in a recall election, which happens to be Ron Kind. He’s never lost a congressional election, has a calm, confident demeanor, and he played quarterback at Harvard. Close enough.

There’s no doubt that Dave Obey's jersey should be hung prominently in the DPW Hall of Fame. But that doesn’t mean we should let him back on the field.