February 16, 2011

Paul Soglin over Mayor Dave Cieslewicz in the Madison mayoral primary.

It's a big deal around here:
In a remarkable comeback, former Mayor Paul Soglin won the Madison mayoral primary by a narrow margin over two-term incumbent Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, assuring a general election for the record books on April 5....

Cieslewicz is seeking a third four-year term. Soglin, who to the mayor's surprise entered the race late on Dec. 22, held the office longer than anyone in two stints in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.
Back to the 70s!
The mayor ran on his record — a top bond rating, more cops and fire stations, rebuilding the Central Library, automated trash collection, his vision for a new economy and challenges presented by Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP-controlled state Legislature.

Of Soglin, [UW polisci prof Charles] Franklin, said, "He's maintained a political base in the city that's truly remarkable when you consider how long his career has spanned. And of Cieslewicz, Franklin said, "with two terms in office has failed to make the office securely his own."
I happened to get a picture of Soglin the other day when I went down to the demonstration:

P1060397

Somehow this song plays in my head....



A little bit of courage is all we lack
So catch me if you can, I'm goin' back

24 comments:

roesch-voltaire said...

He is too retro and too enamored with his image and power to get my vote, there must be a better alternative.

Patrick said...

Funny, I'm finally getting around to reading David Maraniss' book "They Marched into Sunlight," which chronicles (among other things) Soglin's emergence as an antiwar leader. I wonder if the Soglin of then would have guessed where he'd be in 2011.

Original Mike said...

If Soglin prohibits the riding of bicycles on the street during a blizzard, he's got my vote.

chickelit said...

In some ways Soglin's comeback parallels Jerry Brown's comeback.

Could this somehow happen at the national level?

Triangle Man said...

That's all well and good, but who is the Republican candidate?

chickelit said...

Madisonians should just beware if Soglin somehow brings back former mayoral aide Jim Rowen. That man is an unrepentant lefty.

Bob_R said...

That's the song that split David Crosby from the Byrds. You can hear his vocals, but he's not in the clip.

Popville said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bandmeeting said...

Nils Lofgren had a great version of that song on a great album, I think his first solo.

Too bad he had to join up with B. Springsteen:

"Well Sally dumped me for a college guy

I guess I'll just drive around this town in my old GTO

Daddy got laid off at the factory

OOOOOO, this diry ole jobless town

Etc. Etc.

Popville said...

How can you go wrong with Goffin/King's hauntingly beautiful Goin' Back? Without fail Ann's musical counterpoint makes reading along such a joy.

Gene Clark, never looking handsomer btw, had only just returned to the Byrds when this & the lip-synched version itself were recorded. He left barely weeks later for good. Also note David Crosby's absence was partially due to the decision to record & release this same song instead of his Triad (another hauntingly beautiful melody, in fairness). Tho more likely because he was such a horse's ass ...cue the album cover...


** typo corrected **

Meade said...

I happened to get a picture of Soglin the other day when I went down to the demonstration

To get your fair share of abuse?

Carol said...

Oh that was a good album. And yes Crosby was the ultimate horse's ass..

chickelit said...

To get your fair share of abuse?

To vent her frustration. Do you happen to have any 50 amp fuses at Meadhouse? ;)

chickelit said...

And yes Crosby was the ultimate horse's ass.

David Crosby reportedly hated--hated the sound of the banjo--ergo no banjos in any of his music.

Cowardly Lion indeed.

jr565 said...

Also note David Crosby's absence was partially due to the decision to record & release this same song instead of his Triad (another hauntingly beautiful melody, in fairness). Tho more likely because he was such a horse's ass ...cue the album cover...


Of the two Goin' Back is SO superior I can't imagine anyone with ears to hear preferring the latter. It's basically a song about how him and his gf should bring in some other people into the relationship including sisters and brothers. I can see why a guy like Crosby would dig that kind of stuff. But it doesn't make it a great song (its not terrible, it's just not great). Though I hear that David Crosby also had a crying fit having to perform Chimes of Freedom. The Byrds veresoin of that is sublime due in large part to Crosby's harmonies. I will give him propes (at least in the Byrds) for contributing really nice background vocals.But he really was a horses ass. His face even looks kind of horsey.

Unknown said...

It's sad how far Madison has gone down the rabbit hole. I actually still remember Klug being my congressman.

But the old saying about Dane County is very much true. "What do you call a conservative in Dane County? A Democrat"

My dad is one of the few Republicans and last we talked would actually welcome old Paul over Dave. Sad.

tree hugging sister said...

Is he a good witch or a bad witch?

ricpic said...

Lemme guess, Soglin keeps a shrine to Trotsky, right?

MadisonMan said...

So we can vote for the past, or the present, but not the future?

chickelit said...

Lemme guess, Soglin keeps a shrine to Trotsky, right?

Soglin co-starred (along with Karleton Armstrong) in an Academy Award-nominated film called The War At Home.

He's kind of a Madison hero.

Triangle Man said...

but not the future?

@MadisonMan

See my question about about the Republican candidate.

kjbe said...

Same here, RV.

Roost on the Moon said...

He guest-lectured in my postwar American history class at the UW. The topic was the student movements of the sixties, and he gave an interesting (and presently germane) answer when someone asked what practical lessons today's grassroots organizers could take from that period:

You've got to keep the crazies out. You've got to weed out people that just want to be crazy or violent or revolutionary.

Auggie said...

You mean he is STILL alive? Who said you can't be 20 and live on "Sugar Mountain"?
Hey, dig up Bill Proxmire, while you're at it!