John Oliver says he puts comedy first on ‘Last Week Tonight’ page 32 November 27, 2014 | Vol. 6 No. 2 Holiday Gift Guide page 19-27 5 Immigration reform How President Obama’s exec- utive action on immigration is playing out in Wisconsin. 10 Solar setback Environmentalists are outraged at We Energies’ proposal to penalize homeowners with solar panels. 29 Woodman’s spirits The mega-grocer has perhaps the most extensive liquor, wine and beer selection to be found in Wisconsin. 31 Christmas Carol After 15 prior performances in the show, Jonathan Smoots finally gets to play Scrooge in Shopping for your cool cats & top dogs the Rep’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’ 2 WISCONSINGAZETTE.COM | November 27, 2014 News with a twist WiGWAG By Lisa Neff, Matthew Reddin, Louis Weisberg BULLY FOR BENJY Thanksgiving Day SEXISM BLUES coordinated effort to spike sales. letters written to Marilyn from Benjy, Ireland’s so-called “gay and remain open for For a year, TV host Karl Stefa- Driscoll recently resigned from his husbands Arthur Miller and Joe bull,” has been saved from the 42 hours. But other novic wore the same blue suit when church over the scandal. Result- DiMaggio — letters that the auc- slaughterhouse and is destined to businesses, such as he appeared on the Today program Source CEO Kevin Small is a gradu- tioneer says are worthy of a movie live out his days at an animal sanc- locally owned Biltrite on an Australian network. And no ate of Liberty University. script. tuary in England. Hopefully near Furniture store, a one seemed to notice. Stefanovic another bull. The AP reported that WiG advertiser, are not only giving was out to prove a point: While SAy ‘SPaghETTi’ Not BUYING IT Sam Simon, the co-creator of The employees Thanksgiving Day off people regularly judge women on A Utah woman says she didn’t A petition on change.org is call- Simpsons and a leading supporter but even closing early on the day what they wear and how they look, encounter too much hassle for ing on Old Navy to stop charg- of animal welfare causes, helped before. Even some big-box stores including his female co-host, men wearing a strainer on her head ing more for plus-size women’s save the Charlerois bull, who failed are adopting employee-friendly are generally judged on their job when she posed for her driver’s clothing than it does for big men’s to impregnate any heifers and policies, including Costco, Petco, performance. license photo at a Utah Division of apparel. More than 16,000 peo- showed an attraction for another DSW, Burlington Coat Factory, TJ Motor Vehicles bureau. The woman ple signed after learning that Old bull. Maxx, Crate & Barrel and Bed Bath NEws FOR VLADIMIR follows the satirical Flying Spaghet- Navy charges $12–$15 more for & Beyond. Apple is now worth more than ti Monster Church — also known plus-sized women’s jeans than for APOCALYPSE Now? Russia’s stock market. The tech as “Pastafarianism.” The move- smaller sizes, but does not do the A poll by the Public Religion BETTER Not POUT giant’s worth has overtaken the ment began in 2005 to protest same for men’s large-size jeans. A Research Institute showed that 69 The right-wing Liberty Counsel combined value of all Russian pub- the teaching of intelligent design in spokeswoman said that women’s percent of Americans believe there already is compiling its “naughty lic companies for the first time in Kansas schools. Utah officials said plus-sized clothing costs more is solid evidence that the Earth is or nice list” in its Friend or Foe history, Bloomberg reported. Not they recognize Pastafarianism as a because it has special features that getting warmer. But when pollsters Christmas Campaign. The group bad for a company with a gay CEO, religion. So despite a ban on hats or men’s apparel doesn’t. asked about the cause of recent makes a tradition of going after hey, Missy Putin? headgear in license photos, colan- natural disasters, 49 percent companies that strive to promote ders can be worn because they are BIG BOO-BOO blamed the biblical “end times” diversity during the season with REAL DISHONEst religious garments. After a parent complained, instead of pollution. the use of “holiday” or the men- Former megachurch pastor school district officials in Char- tion of Hanukkah or government Mark Driscoll’s book Real Marriage MARILYN MONROE lotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, OVERTIME entities that seek to honor separa- topped the hardcover advice sec- The Lost Archives of Marilyn pulled a high school class assign- About one in four American tion of church and state. Ameri- tion of The New York Times best- Monroe, a collection of more than ment on genetics that was some- workers will have to go to work this can Eagle Outfitters already has seller list in 2012. But the evan- 200 very rare items that belonged thing of a story problem: “LaSha- year on a holiday. Kmart and Tar- earned three frowning elves for gelical magazine World reported to the timeless star, will be auc- manda” has a “big bootie” and get employees have been told using “Yule” instead of “Christ- that the book’s sales figures were tioned off during the Icons & Idols: husband “Fontavius” has a “small that they will face being fired if mas” in a promotion. Hobby Lobby, driven by a consulting firm called Hollywood event to be held Dec. bootie.” So what is the probability they don’t come in. In fact, Kmart meanwhile, has three smiling elves ResultSource, which purchased 5-6 at the Julien’s Auctions Bev- of their baby, “LaPrincess,” having will open its doors at 6 a.m. on for, well, you know. books on behalf of Driscoll in a erly Hills gallery. Included are love “her mama’s big bootie”? WISCONSINGAZETTE.COM | November 27, 2014 3 4 WISCONSINGAZETTE.COM | November 27, 2014 Lame-duck drama Showdowns over immigration, Keystone XL pipeline By Lisa Neff tus. Immigrants, like many of our nation’s because they’re going to see it as a move Staff writer farmworkers who will have put the food outside the authority of the president, and President Barack Obama came back after on our Thanksgiving tables, play a funda- it’s going to be a very serious situation. a massive Election Day defeat to take big mental role in our country yet remain in the You’re going to see — hopefully not — but leaps on climate change and decisive execu- shadows.” you could see instances of anarchy. …You tive action to protect millions of immigrants Still, Republican leaders, who warned the could see violence.” from deportation. president against acting on immigration Later, tea party Republicans launched Meanwhile, Democrats fended off a bid before the new Congress is seated in Janu- an effort to insert into any spending bills — led by one of their own but favoring the ary, complained Obama had poisoned the language barring federal spending to imple- GOP — to approve the long-delayed Key- well. ment the president’s policy. Such a move stone XL pipeline project during the lame- “The president’s decision to issue this could lead to another partial government duck session that ends in December. executive order is a stunning act of parti- shutdown, something incoming Major- Those involved in progressive groups, sanship and polarization,” said U.S. Rep. ity Leader Mitch McConnell and House who in early November were heartbroken Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin. “Clearly, he is more Speaker John Boehner have said would not by election results, celebrated multiple vic- interested in playing politics than helping happen. tories later in November. hard-working taxpayers. With this legally The president’s executive action on immi- After Obama announced his immigra- suspect and unilateral act, he has poisoned gration followed his achievement in reach- tion plan on Nov. 20, EarthJustice president the well on what should be a bipartisan ing a landmark deal with China for both Trip Van Noppen, who just days earlier had effort and brought relations with Congress countries to cut emissions and reduce pol- cheered the defeat of the KXL bill, said, “We to a new low.” lution. applaud the president for taking steps … to Obama had pledged to act on immigra- In November, Obama also pledged $3 eliminate the threat of deportation for mil- tion after the midterm election and, know- billion to the United Nations Green Climate lions of immigrants who have become an ing House Republicans would refuse to act, Fund, a new institution under the United intrinsic part of our communities and the the president on Nov. 21 signed an executive Nations Framework Convention on Climate nation as a whole. order offering relief from deportation for Change that channels funds primarily from “Rather than try to tear this initiative about 5 million people. developed to developing countries to deal PHOTO: PETE SOUZA/WHITE HOUSE down, Congress should step up to its The night before, Obama outlined his with climate change. President Barack Obama looks over notes responsibility and enact comprehensive plan in a speech to the nation and right- in the Blue Room at the White House. In immigration reform for the millions of aspir- wing Republicans made dire predictions. NO PIPELine — yeT mid-November, the president addressed ing Americans whose ability to secure jus- U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma falsely Democrats, meanwhile, held back a push the nation on immigration, announcing tice is hampered by their immigration sta- predicted, “The country’s going to go nuts, to pass a bill approving the Keystone XL executive action to protect millions.