Opinion

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Hassett will actually do attorney general duties

The choice between sitting Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and his opponent Scott Hassett was not a difficult one. Van Hollen has effectively been campaigning not to receive our endorsement for the last four years. His list of accomplishments is less impressive than Joe Pesci's in ""My Cousin Vinny."" He dropped the ball on Calumet County's ""sexting"" District Attorney Ken Kratz, who Van Hollen's office allowed to waft around courtrooms for months following allegations of sexual harassment. Last year the Wisconsin Department of Justice misplaced thousands of DNA samples, leading to the possibility of up to 3,000 convicted felons walking free when they should have been in jail.

Vote Barrett to keep Walker from sending us off the rails

Wisconsin faces a projected $2.7 billion deficit. To balance the budget, we need a governor who not only knows how to cut spending, but who knows where to make smart, sustainable cuts. That is why we endorse Tom Barrett for governor.

Bringing the 'win' back in Baldwin

In a Wisconsin election season filled with closely fought races, the question of who should represent our Second Congressional District is an easy one to answer. Through her consistent performance in Congress and commitment to representing her constituents, Rep. Tammy Baldwin has earned our endorsement for reelection.

In District 77 Manski best for students

Either candidate for Wisconsin's 77th district, Democrat Brett Hulsey or the Green Party's Ben Manski, will represent a liberal vote in the assembly. On a great deal of environmental and social issues Manski and Hulsey seem to be in agreement and would reflect the opinions of Madison and Middleton voters.

'It gets better' founder is only getting worse

As proud as I was to show my support for victims of bullying by wearing purple last Wednesday at Library Mall, I was quickly reminded later that day that members of the LGBT community are not the only victims who are regularly attacked because of their identity. In fact, some gay rights supporters and many other activists with liberal leaning perspectives are actually to blame for at least a portion of the disrespect that has recently come to the forefront of our society.

Dissent: Record disclosure unfair

I can understand why my fellow members of The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board would want access to as many court records as possible. We are journalists and it is our job to get all necessary information out to the public.

Nice to have Russ back

As I sat behind the stage staring at the back of President Barack Obama's head Tuesday evening, my thoughts centered not on the leader of the free world standing before me, but on the senator fighting for his political life who spoke minutes earlier.

The summer of love versus marriage

Tuition hike: academic aristocracy

Wisconsin would benefit from medicinal-marijuana legislation

Currently, fourteen states across the nation allow the use of medicinal marijuana as a treatment for various illnesses. For cancer patients, marijuana is used to remedy the terrible nausea that follows chemotherapy. In people affected by glaucoma, the sticky icky has been shown to reduce irritating intraocular eye pressure. Even for people with AIDS, pot stimulates appetite in order to reverse the debilitating effects of wasting syndrome.

Candidates' stance on smoking ban unacceptable

City should focus efforts on homeless

Last month, the Madison city council approved the $98 million redevelopment of the Edgewater Hotel. That sounds like a lot of money to the average Madisonian, but lately the city has been on a spending spree when it comes to new buildings—whether they're hotels, libraries or apartment complexes.

... and new leaders enter tomorrow

Hey guys. My name is Emma Roller and I'll be taking over as editor in chief of The Daily Cardinal next semester. I have five main goals for improving the Cardinal in the upcoming school year.

Step back, take time to recognize the earth

Aldo Leopold's ""A Sand County Almanac"" seems to pride itself in being unapologetically divisive. Leopold wrote, ""A thing is right when it tends to preserve integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise."" This is as bold a statement now as it was back then, even after decades of environmentalism and green consciousness.

Calling a foul on Duncan

This decade UW-Madison has taken a lot of flak from students, alumni and other frequently frustrated persons for its track record with commencement speakers. And it's not without reason, as the recent list of speakers hasn't really had much of a ""wow"" factor.

Old leaders move on today...

I am incredibly proud of the four years I have spent working at The Daily Cardinal. It is something that has impacted my life in innumerable ways, and I am sincerely grateful for the opportunities I have been given.

Students drown in debt

It's that time of year again, when young recent college grads with little-to-no work experience are set loose, diplomas in hand, on the so-called ""real"" world where one's value is measured in salary digits and employment perks. Recent economic activity, according to those self-proclaimed experts in the ""science"" of the relationship between humans and money, suggests that things are looking brighter out there in the job market. American consumers are feeling more confident, loosening their purse strings and buying shit. And we all know there's nothing Americans love to do more than buy shit. And theoretically, the more shit Americans buy the more jobs there will be. Right?

Ideologue Van Hollen unfit for top cop

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has always put his own political image before our state. The 2010 attorney general race is barely underway, and already a recent e-mail flub has demonstrated that.

The Year of Humanities: epic fail

Call us hippies, humanitarians, Dr. Seuss' loving Loraxes if you want, but it was par for the course to hear someone cry out, ""I speak for the Humani‘trees'!"" during this year's Editorial Board roundtables. That's because at the beginning of this academic year, Chancellor Biddy Martin declared this the Year of the Humanities. It was supposed to be a tribute to those still lost and wandering through the halls of the Humanities building and/or jobless with that English degree; i.e., an acknowledgement of the importance of those who prioritize critical thinking skills. One of the oldest and most neglected buildings on campus, Humanities houses a limited supply of TAs who are left to tend to inevitably non-profitable, non-math and non-science majors. These students are then left to preserve pride and appreciation for their field. Yet, Biddy's declaration finally promised vindication—theoretically, that is.

Implications of buying local extend beyond your shopping list

The Dardanelles is a 13-year-old Mediterranean restaurant located on the west side of campus on Monroe Street. You can't order a number three with fries, and the Mahi Mahi doesn't taste like a stuffed Chipotle burrito. It's the perfect symbol for the small-town, local atmosphere of restaurants and shops that fill the area.