Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Sunday, June 29, 2008
Marc Wehrs: Yes, it’s loud — but it’s fun, too
Once S&S Cycle’s 50th anniversary celebration was under way, visitors at www.lacrossetribune.com started to warm up to the idea of thousands of motorcyclists swarming downtown La Crosse and filling up hotels and campgrounds for miles around.
As of 4 p.m. Saturday, 20,000 wristbands had been sold at the Oktoberfest grounds, the event charged ahead despite the occasional rain and bikers and non-bikers mingled peacefully.
But the decibel level was high enough that a few curmudgeons were still complaining.
Here’s a sample of the comments visitors attached to the first-day story about the event:
dumas wrote: “A lot less noise than Airfest and way more money into the local economy. Besides, where the majority of the events are being held, I seriously doubt they are affecting a large number of the whiners here.”
Jaxx wrote: “This is a good thing! With the economy being the way it is, it’s amazing that any kind of event can attract people at all. From the way it sounds, S&S has done a wonderful job of pulling people, and their tourist dollars, to La Crosse. So I say ‘Welcome to La Crosse!’”
taxpayer wrote: “This is AWESOME!!! Went walking through downtown last night to see all the bikes. Totally amazing.”
nancybotwin wrote: “I would like to file a noise complaint!”
beerman wrote: “I want to file a noise complaint about all the whining and crying!”
k.m. wrote: “Nancy Botwin would never file a noise complaint, especially against bikers, they may be some of her best customers. "
So you don’t have to be in a militia ...
The right keep and bear arms — that’s RKABA to the people who are really into this issue — was the topic after Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that defined the right as residing in the individual.
People on both sides of that fight commented on a story at www.lacrossetribune.com about local reaction:
rickey wrote: “Will the homicide rate in D.C. go up or down? The press will be watching.”
blogger wrote: “Rickey — it depends on how good an aim they have. Do you think the Supreme Court anticipated more people using this decision to be able to join that well regulated militia the Constitution refers to in describing those rights to bear arms? My guess is no — buy Kevlar.”
let it be said wrote: “5-4 vote: I just can’t believe that 4 of them actually voted WRONG! ...”
blogger wrote: “... How often in this day and age has it happened that someone has actually used their handgun in self defense — and not gotten themselves or an innocent killed? This is a victory for the paranoid fringe.”
kamikazefaase wrote: “I’m not surprised five judges got it WRONG. It seems they cannot read the entire second amendment. But then again, neither side can at times on various issues.”
Common Sense wrote: “Just as the liberals don’t want any chance of their phone calls being listened into, gun owners don’t want someone telling them they can’t own a gun. Same deal. Live with it.”
From St. Louis to Rome
Few public figures have inspired as much spirited comment at www.lacrossetribune.com as Raymond Burke, first as bishop of the La Crosse Diocese, then as archbishop in St. Louis, and now as the leader of the Vatican’s supreme court.
While his appointment to lead the Apostolic Signatura will mean a lower media profile, visitors at www.lacrossetribune.com were quick to suggest that his rise in the church hierarchy is far from over.
His a sample of what readers were writing:
zedeq wrote: “This may be Pope Benedict’s way of helping the Archdiocese of Saint Louis to heal, while putting Archbishop Burke’s talents to their best use in the Catholic Judicial System where he will become nearly invisible. Who can name the judges in the Signatura?”
theman wrote: “As for the shrine ... RB solicited those contributions. If he would have solicited contributions to build a model Catholic school system, he probably would have gotten those.”
Seriously Now wrote: “Burke’s decision to build a shrine had nothing to do with the Vatican and everything to do with loving western Wisconsin and La Crosse. In a town known only for bars, drunks fished out of rivers, and the world’s biggest six-pack, it ads a new dimension. The financial benefit over the years will be immense.”
Michael Welch wrote: “... (W)ill this mean he won’t likely become a major candidate for the papacy? But then Ratzinger (now ‘Pope Benedict’) was not a ‘pastor’ but a bureaucrat, too. So RB (is ‘cardinalization’ imminent?) MAY yet have the opportunity to be the first ‘American pope’?”
The Real World wrote: “I admire this guy because he stands for what he believes, not what people want him to. He has guts and conviction!”
By the numbers
More than two-thirds of respondents to one of www.lacrossetribune.com’s daily poll questions think the U.S. Supreme Court got it wrong when it said, basically, that when it comes to crimes against individuals, there needs to be a death involved for the death penalty to be invoked.
Sixty-nine percent of respondents (1,148 of 1,660) think people who rape children should be put to death. Fifteen percent were against the death penalty in such cases, and another 13 percent oppose the death penalty in all crimes. Three percent had no strong opinion.
You may reach Marc Wehrs at mwehrs@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8218.
All stories copyright 2000 - 2006 La Crosse Tribune and other attributed sources.