CONLEY COMMENTARY - The end of an era in Wausau mayoral politics
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - The message from Wausau voters appears to be this: the city's finances, and to-the-moon debt are more important than weed-eating goats and the phony issue of inclusiveness. Katie Rosenberg got to the very bottom of the voters' pockets, and when she did she was voted out of office. Whether or...
Apr 03, 2024
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CONLEY COMMENTARY - Joe Lieberman
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - Former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman died last week. I interviewed and reported on him many times when I lived in the northeast. He was one of the nicest, most-glib politicians I've ever met. Senator Joe was a liberal, which means he and I disagreed on almost everything in the political u...
Apr 02, 2024
CONLEY COMMENTARY - Is She In Trouble?
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - My colleague Meg Ellefson has shared that she is a regular Wheel of Fortune viewer. I'm sure for Meg, it's been hard to watch lately. Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg's campaign last week began airing four commercials in each half-hour show. That's a saturation strategy. That begs the question, i...
Apr 01, 2024
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CONLEY COMMENTARY - Friday on Faith; The birdcage
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - It is Good Friday, the day Jesus Christ went to the cross for you and for me. Radio commentator Paul Harvey used to tell a story similar to this. Today I am paraphrasing. A minister walked into church to give his Good Friday sermon. He arrived holding an old, rusty birdcage. The cage door was...
Mar 29, 2024
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CONLEY COMMENTARY - Where's the economic development? Where's the affordable housing?
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - As you consider your vote for mayor in Wausau, consider two critical issues: economic development and affordable housing. The city is failing in both areas. Can you recall the last time current mayor Katie Rosenberg stood at a ribbon cutting, welcoming a new large employer to town? I can't. ...
Mar 28, 2024
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CONLEY COMMENTARY - Everywhere is a free speech zone
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - You can imagine the crazy liberal groups that will descend on Milwaukee this summer during the Republican National Convention. They'll be barely moored to reality as they protest, picket, scream and shout as Donald Trump comes to town to accept the GOP nomination. Add in some Antifa activists...
Mar 27, 2024
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CONLEY COMMENTARY - Endorsements
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - The election for mayor in Wausau is one week from today. I think looking at your property taxes is far more persuasive than some endorsements that have come out over the last few days. Alderwoman and former City Council President Lisa Rasmussen endorses Katie Rosenberg. The last three mayors ...
Mar 26, 2024
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CONLEY COMMENTARY - The Austerity Mayor
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - Most people run for public office because they want to do something. They see unmet needs in our country, or our state, or our community, and they want to change those things. Well, suppose you ran for office and found out after winning that there wasn't any money left for your priorities. We...
Mar 25, 2024
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CONLEY COMMENTARY - Friday on Faith; The Crowd is Fickle
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - My existence depends on having a certain level of popularity. The audience size for this broadcast is measured. The number of clicks for each blog or podcast is known. If those numbers are low or are declining, I wouldn't be here. What I have to keep reminding myself is that popularity is ne...
Mar 22, 2024
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CONLEY COMMENTARY - C'mon, get happy
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) - Americans are a sour group these days. Gallop does a country-by-country survey that asks people a simple question: "are you happy?" For the first time ever, the United States no longer ranks in the top 20. We're 23rd. The happiest nations on earth are the Scandinavian countries. Lit...
Mar 21, 2024
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