In better times the city of Milwaukee was home to the annual Great Circus Parade, a summer tradition which ended in 2003, but then saw a one year revival in 2009. While the parade and accompanying circus attractions are missing this year a couple of local clowns have stepped up to keep us entertained.

Only one week ago Peggy West made the transition from little known Milwaukee County Supervisor to world famous political clown. In supporting the county's proposed Arizona boycott, Ms. West rationalized that the controversial immigration law made little sense because Arizona isn't even a border state. Lucky for Peggy there is always room for another clown in the big tent of the Democrat National Circus starring Barack Hussein Obama, mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!

While millions of us were laughing at Peggy West's antics, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel columnist Eugene Kane (the Emmett Kelly of race-baiting journalists) tumbled into the center ring. Mr. Kane opened his act by saying "many Americans couldn't tell you which U.S. states share a border with Mexico." Rather than offer some more geographic hi-jinx (like the clown who said he had been in 57 states and had only 1 more to go) Kane got serious.

Instead of joining in on the fun, Mr. Kane veered off into more familiar territory. We were told that Peggy West was actually the first Hispanic-American elected to the Milwaukee County Board, that she has relatives in Arizona and has visited there many times. The flap about her comments had been blown all out of proportion because of her race. Kane went on to say.

Internet comments about the story took on an ugly taint as some cowardly readers used insults about West's background, ethnicity and even her physical appearance to make their point about her mistake.

It's enough to make anyone feel sorry for West, who managed to win two elections from voters in her district and serves on a number of county commissions.

It was interesting to watch the reactions to West's comments take on the usual political slant based on whether readers supported or opposed the Arizona immigration law. While some politicians are criticized for being too intellectual (think Barack Obama), others get slammed for misstatements of facts.