Hipcycler
12-07-07, 10:11 AM
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A former mayor has become a bit of an Internet sensation after suggesting on his blog that bicyclists who venture out in snowstorms be shot.
Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said he meant the comment to be subtle, ironic and topical.
It also was a take off on a comment that got a suburban Milwaukee chemistry teacher in trouble. During a discussion about teacher salaries on a conservative blog, James Buss sarcastically wrote that Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold "knew how to deal with the overpaid teacher union thugs. One shot at a time!"
Police in West Bend arrested Buss after another teacher complained about the post, but Washington County District Attorney Todd Martens said this week he would not charge him.
Soglin made his comment on www.waxingamerica.com, a blog he shares with a University of Wisconsin-Madison telecommunications professor.
Links were quickly passed around the country, drawing responses from winter bicyclists in such places as the Yukon.
"Fat, grumpy, intolerant ex-mayors ought to be shot. Get some exercise," said a posting by "cyclomaniac."
Soglin had titled his Wednesday commentary, "Bicycling Madison Style: As Dumb As It Gets."
"I was driving home Tuesday at a snail's pace, and there were these lunatics out there riding their bikes in a snowstorm, which they had been doing over the weekend as well," Soglin said Thursday.
"So there was a new 5 inches of snow on top of the ruts and ice we already had on the streets, and it was the middle of rush hour," he said. "And (the bicyclists) were all over the road, not to mention the guy who was on a mo-ped.
"As a bicyclist myself, I hold us to higher standards than that. We are supposed to be more rational, more sane, smarter and better looking."
His comments got 1,600 hits by noon Thursday, many of them impolite and a few profane.
"Let me see if we can reduce this: When you're in your car, the world revolves around you and every other person, being or object should just get the @$@$ out of your way?" said one response.
Soglin was quickly tiring of the controversy.
"If these nitwits don't leave me alone," he said. "I'm going to go after the trail bike riders next."
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV-12-07-07 1109CST
Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said he meant the comment to be subtle, ironic and topical.
It also was a take off on a comment that got a suburban Milwaukee chemistry teacher in trouble. During a discussion about teacher salaries on a conservative blog, James Buss sarcastically wrote that Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold "knew how to deal with the overpaid teacher union thugs. One shot at a time!"
Police in West Bend arrested Buss after another teacher complained about the post, but Washington County District Attorney Todd Martens said this week he would not charge him.
Soglin made his comment on www.waxingamerica.com, a blog he shares with a University of Wisconsin-Madison telecommunications professor.
Links were quickly passed around the country, drawing responses from winter bicyclists in such places as the Yukon.
"Fat, grumpy, intolerant ex-mayors ought to be shot. Get some exercise," said a posting by "cyclomaniac."
Soglin had titled his Wednesday commentary, "Bicycling Madison Style: As Dumb As It Gets."
"I was driving home Tuesday at a snail's pace, and there were these lunatics out there riding their bikes in a snowstorm, which they had been doing over the weekend as well," Soglin said Thursday.
"So there was a new 5 inches of snow on top of the ruts and ice we already had on the streets, and it was the middle of rush hour," he said. "And (the bicyclists) were all over the road, not to mention the guy who was on a mo-ped.
"As a bicyclist myself, I hold us to higher standards than that. We are supposed to be more rational, more sane, smarter and better looking."
His comments got 1,600 hits by noon Thursday, many of them impolite and a few profane.
"Let me see if we can reduce this: When you're in your car, the world revolves around you and every other person, being or object should just get the @$@$ out of your way?" said one response.
Soglin was quickly tiring of the controversy.
"If these nitwits don't leave me alone," he said. "I'm going to go after the trail bike riders next."
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV-12-07-07 1109CST