There are some rumors and blog posts saying Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker may resign very soon due to his involvement in the FBI's John Doe investigation otherwise known as Walkergate. The thought is that the investigation is inevitably leading right to Walker (Walker is "John Doe"), and apparently there are "sources of sources" that have heard Walker may be arrested as early as this week. The arrest would then put immense pressure on Walker to resign.
72% of Wisconsinites are aware of the investigation. So for those of you who don't know about Walkergate, or just want to learn more, check out Walkergate.info which (much like Watergate.info) details all of the people, charges, convictions and nearly everything in between.
Will Walker be arrested this week or sometime before the recall election? Will he resign before we ever get a chance to recall him? Blue Cheddar examines what would happen.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Walker Recall: No Fraudulent Signatures
With millions of dollars, thousands of workers, and thrice the normal time, Scott Walker has been unable to find any fraudulent signatures in the campaign to recall him from the office of Wisconsin Governor, and he's throwing in the towel.
There are no known fraudulent signatures in the recall of Walker. Walker couldn't even find one, according to Wisconsin Democrat Party Chair Mike Tate.
So, the campaign to recall Walker has verifiably collected nearly as many signatures as people who voted for Walker (1.1 million), and a recall election is now inevitable. The GAB just has to certify the recall, and without a challenge, certification is little more than a rubber stamp. (This is a little misleading, because Walker got a judge to make the GAB verify the signatures, costing more taxpayer money, but if Walker can't find any fraudulent signatures, there aren't enough, if any, fraudulent signatures to not certify the recall.)
No names were challenged as "fake" in any of the recalls against Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and 3 other Republican Senators either, despite all of the ruckus over Mickey Mouse signatures and duplicate signers.
Can you smell blood?
Update: Walker wants the out-of-state "Verify the Recall" group to challenge signatures, but the GAB has denied his request. Walker could have submitted any of their supposed findings if he felt they had any merit. Instead, he declined and left the BSing to a third-party.
There are no known fraudulent signatures in the recall of Walker. Walker couldn't even find one, according to Wisconsin Democrat Party Chair Mike Tate.
So, the campaign to recall Walker has verifiably collected nearly as many signatures as people who voted for Walker (1.1 million), and a recall election is now inevitable. The GAB just has to certify the recall, and without a challenge, certification is little more than a rubber stamp. (This is a little misleading, because Walker got a judge to make the GAB verify the signatures, costing more taxpayer money, but if Walker can't find any fraudulent signatures, there aren't enough, if any, fraudulent signatures to not certify the recall.)
No names were challenged as "fake" in any of the recalls against Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and 3 other Republican Senators either, despite all of the ruckus over Mickey Mouse signatures and duplicate signers.
Can you smell blood?
Update: Walker wants the out-of-state "Verify the Recall" group to challenge signatures, but the GAB has denied his request. Walker could have submitted any of their supposed findings if he felt they had any merit. Instead, he declined and left the BSing to a third-party.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
WI Rep. Joel Kleefisch Caught Voting Illegally
Wisconsin Rep. Joel Kleefisch has been caught on video committing voter fraud, voting in someone else's name. In the video below, you see Kleefisch recording votes for absent members on their machines during Tuesday's session.
Notice how he glares down the videographer after noticing he was caught. What a creep!
According to Assembly Rules, "only the members present in the assembly chamber may vote."
WTMJ asked Kleefisch whether he broke a rule, and he responded, "It depends upon how you interpret the rule."
Kleefisch is referring to the Assembly's definition of the chamber which states, "Assembly chamber: The entire area west of the easternmost doors of the assembly, including the visitor's galleries, lobbies, offices of the speaker, majority leader, and minority leader, and hallways."
If you interpret the rule as applying to only the chamber room, Kleefisch would admit he was in violation of Assembly rules. If you interpret the rule as applying to the Assembly's definition of chamber, then Kleefisch says he was within the rules.
However, Kleefisch is trying to distract us from the core issue with his behavior. The issue isn't whether or not someone is in the chamber. The issue is that Kleefisch is voting in someone else's name. That's voter fraud!
Kleefisch was so worried about voter fraud that he voted for the Voter Suppression Law last year. Apparently, Kleefisch feels voter fraud applies to everyone but him. However, the comparison is somewhat mute. We all know the Voter Suppression Law wasn't passed to prevent voter fraud, because it doesn't stop any case of voter fraud Wisconsin has seen, but it does prevent many poor, elderly and minorities from voting. In fact, the Advancement Project sued Wisconsin today over the discriminating law. Kleefisch doesn't give a crap about voter fraud, and he has no problem committing it himself.
Psychologists have a name for this type of behavior, projection. If there's anyone who's been messing around with votes and elections it's been the Republicans, and since they do it, they assume other people must be, too.
Governor Scott Walker used to think this behavior was unacceptable when he worked in the Assembly. Walker wanted to change the rule so that only actively participating members may vote. "Change the rule to apply to people we are talking about who aren't in the chamber and aren't aware of what is going on," Walker once said.
What does Walker think of his Lt. Governor's husband voting in someone else's name?
Notice how he glares down the videographer after noticing he was caught. What a creep!
According to Assembly Rules, "only the members present in the assembly chamber may vote."
WTMJ asked Kleefisch whether he broke a rule, and he responded, "It depends upon how you interpret the rule."
Kleefisch is referring to the Assembly's definition of the chamber which states, "Assembly chamber: The entire area west of the easternmost doors of the assembly, including the visitor's galleries, lobbies, offices of the speaker, majority leader, and minority leader, and hallways."
If you interpret the rule as applying to only the chamber room, Kleefisch would admit he was in violation of Assembly rules. If you interpret the rule as applying to the Assembly's definition of chamber, then Kleefisch says he was within the rules.
However, Kleefisch is trying to distract us from the core issue with his behavior. The issue isn't whether or not someone is in the chamber. The issue is that Kleefisch is voting in someone else's name. That's voter fraud!
Kleefisch was so worried about voter fraud that he voted for the Voter Suppression Law last year. Apparently, Kleefisch feels voter fraud applies to everyone but him. However, the comparison is somewhat mute. We all know the Voter Suppression Law wasn't passed to prevent voter fraud, because it doesn't stop any case of voter fraud Wisconsin has seen, but it does prevent many poor, elderly and minorities from voting. In fact, the Advancement Project sued Wisconsin today over the discriminating law. Kleefisch doesn't give a crap about voter fraud, and he has no problem committing it himself.
Psychologists have a name for this type of behavior, projection. If there's anyone who's been messing around with votes and elections it's been the Republicans, and since they do it, they assume other people must be, too.
Governor Scott Walker used to think this behavior was unacceptable when he worked in the Assembly. Walker wanted to change the rule so that only actively participating members may vote. "Change the rule to apply to people we are talking about who aren't in the chamber and aren't aware of what is going on," Walker once said.
What does Walker think of his Lt. Governor's husband voting in someone else's name?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wisconsin Republicans Refuse to Fix Gerrymandered Maps After Judges Plea
A three-judge panel in Federal court, who has lambasted the Republicans for their secrecy many times, gave the Republicans the option yesterday to make changes to their gerrymandered maps to fix the issues that brought them to court. The Republicans responded by saying they wanted to, but couldn't change the maps because of some ancient one-time Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling.
Today, the three-judge panel called out the Republicans for their ridiculous assertion. Judge Diane Wood said, "Nothing stands in the way of further revision of the redistricting plan."
By fixing the maps, the Republicans could have ended the court case. Judge Robert M. Dow Jr said "We wouldn't be sitting here if we didn't think there were some issues for trial. You guys can take those issues off the table."
The Republicans were given until 2pm today to decide if they would fix the maps. At 2pm, the judges gave them more time to decide, until 4pm. However, the Republicans continue to waste taxpayer money in court and refuse to make any changes. They have officially refused to fix their gerrymandered maps.
So, now that they can change the maps, they don't want to. Seems they were lying when they said they had any desire to fix their gerrymandering.
Keep wasting the taxpayers' money on frivolous arguments to keep your gerrymandering process secret and the result unchanged, Republicans. You could have stopped this now and saved a lot of time and money. Instead, you continue to stick your nose in the sand, believing in your own twisted reality.
I guess we'll see you Republicans in court again tomorrow.
Wake the f**k up, Wisconsin, and get these Greedy Bastards out! -> Walker is still a toss-up in the latest polls!
Today, the three-judge panel called out the Republicans for their ridiculous assertion. Judge Diane Wood said, "Nothing stands in the way of further revision of the redistricting plan."
By fixing the maps, the Republicans could have ended the court case. Judge Robert M. Dow Jr said "We wouldn't be sitting here if we didn't think there were some issues for trial. You guys can take those issues off the table."
The Republicans were given until 2pm today to decide if they would fix the maps. At 2pm, the judges gave them more time to decide, until 4pm. However, the Republicans continue to waste taxpayer money in court and refuse to make any changes. They have officially refused to fix their gerrymandered maps.
So, now that they can change the maps, they don't want to. Seems they were lying when they said they had any desire to fix their gerrymandering.
Keep wasting the taxpayers' money on frivolous arguments to keep your gerrymandering process secret and the result unchanged, Republicans. You could have stopped this now and saved a lot of time and money. Instead, you continue to stick your nose in the sand, believing in your own twisted reality.
I guess we'll see you Republicans in court again tomorrow.
Wake the f**k up, Wisconsin, and get these Greedy Bastards out! -> Walker is still a toss-up in the latest polls!
Doug La Follette for Wisconsin Governor
According to WisPolitics, Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette will put his name in the mix of Democrat candidates for Walker's recall election.
You may remember La Follette who stood as the last line of defense against the collective bargaining-rights stripping bill. He ordered the Legislative Reference Bureau to not publish the bill following a court order, because the Republicans violated the Open Meetings Law. Then, he later waited until the last minute to publish it when the decision was overturned. He stayed within the legal boundaries, doing exactly what the law required of him to do, but he helped as much as he could.
La Follette's website is at http://www.douglafollette.com/.
You may remember La Follette who stood as the last line of defense against the collective bargaining-rights stripping bill. He ordered the Legislative Reference Bureau to not publish the bill following a court order, because the Republicans violated the Open Meetings Law. Then, he later waited until the last minute to publish it when the decision was overturned. He stayed within the legal boundaries, doing exactly what the law required of him to do, but he helped as much as he could.
La Follette's website is at http://www.douglafollette.com/.
Monday, February 20, 2012
What Has Scott Walker Done for Wisconsin?
Walker says he created thousands of jobs, but he hasn't.
Since taking office as Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker has had very little to brag about. He'll brag to his rich corporate donors that he crippled the rights of workers in Wisconsin, but the two other accomplishments he touts are myths.
What has Walker done for Wisconsin? He didn't balance the budget or create thousands of jobs. He walked Wisconsin back 50 years and then gave it to his corporate donors and their allies.
All of these and far more are nicely outlined with sources in Losses to Working Families Under Governor Walker.
Wisconsin is quickly falling behind, because Walker wants to fight his ideological battles.
Instead of getting Wisconsin on track for the future by working to find the best solutions to our most critical problems, educating our workforce, and enticing high-tech and biotech companies to start in or come to Wisconsin, Walker has done a few other things that are anti-Wisconsin.
- Made it more difficult to vote requiring more time and taxpayer funds and producing longer lines - injuncted
- Concealed carry - opposed by 60%
- For those in support, why do you need to conceal your weapon if you're using it for protection?
The lies about the budget and jobs aren't Walker's only lies. Last year, he tried convincing us that we could save money by stripping collective bargaining rights from our public workers. A month later, Walker admitted under oath to Congress that "it doesn't save any." He also said that he campaigned on stripping those rights, but video has now surfaced of Walker saying, a week before the election, he would negotiate with unions using collective bargaining. And that's just some of the major lies, PolitiFact found a lot more with even more under Pants on Fire!.
So, what has Scott Walker actually done to improve your life?
Update: (5/31/2012) For more recent actions, read What Has Scott Walker Done for Wisconsin Lately?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Secret Republican Documents Reveal They Orchestrated Public Testimony in Gerrymandering
The Journal Sentinel has inspected the 84 documents that Republicans fought tooth-and-nail to keep secret, now that they were made public today when the Republicans were "slammed" by three judges for their secrecy.
The Journal Sentinel's inspection of the documents shows "among other things, that those who drew the maps orchestrated the testimony in favor of the maps for a public hearing that occurred just after they were made available publicly."
"The records provide an inside view on the process Republicans used to draw the maps and show the testimony in favor of the maps was largely orchestrated by those who drew the maps. They recruited people to testify and supplied them with talking points."
Wisconsin Republican leadership was able to keep these secret in part through intimidation of their peers.
Last year, Republicans rudely denied any plans to draw new maps in secret.
From the Journal Sentinel, "The redistricting team considered forcing some senators who were not up for re-election in 2014 to go through special elections in 2012, the emails show. They did not pursue that plan after determining it might violate the state and federal constitutions."
The Journal Sentinel's inspection of the documents shows "among other things, that those who drew the maps orchestrated the testimony in favor of the maps for a public hearing that occurred just after they were made available publicly."
"The records provide an inside view on the process Republicans used to draw the maps and show the testimony in favor of the maps was largely orchestrated by those who drew the maps. They recruited people to testify and supplied them with talking points."
Wisconsin Republican leadership was able to keep these secret in part through intimidation of their peers.
Last year, Republicans rudely denied any plans to draw new maps in secret.
'“You talked to Democrats who ‘think’ that Republican leaders have these grand plots,” Andrew Welhouse, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, says in an email response to questions about GOP plans. “I guess I’ll leave it up to your journalistic standards if their motivated speculation is worth reporting on.”'Update: (7:16pm) The Journal Sentinel has updated their page with additional information.
From the Journal Sentinel, "The redistricting team considered forcing some senators who were not up for re-election in 2014 to go through special elections in 2012, the emails show. They did not pursue that plan after determining it might violate the state and federal constitutions."
WI GOP "Slammed" for Secrecy in Gerrymandering
The latest decision in the federal court case against the Wisconsin Republicans for gerrymandering is a harsh review of recent Republican tactics, calling them "shameful," the Journal Sentinel reports. The Republicans were fighting tooth-and-nail to keep some 84 documents secret, but have now been ordered to make the documents public.
The Republicans were claiming the documents fell under attorney-client privilege, because they consisted of only legal advice. However, the panel of three judges (2 Republican appointees and 1 Democrat) found the documents to primarily consist of political advice. Thus, the documents can't fall under attorney-client privilege. The panel wrote,
The Republicans in Wisconsin are finally being called out for their intimidation, secrecy and lies.
We now have a glimpse into why the Republicans fought so hard to keep the documents secret.
The Republicans were claiming the documents fell under attorney-client privilege, because they consisted of only legal advice. However, the panel of three judges (2 Republican appointees and 1 Democrat) found the documents to primarily consist of political advice. Thus, the documents can't fall under attorney-client privilege. The panel wrote,
"In the court's view, it is quite apparent that these email discussions involve advice on political strategy, as opposed to legal strategy, and, therefore, are not afforded attorney-client privilege protection."The court gets it. The Republicans did the work of the people in private through intimidation, when they should have done it in public. Now they think they can keep the documentation behind that work secret. The Republicans are dead wrong.
"Without a doubt, the Legislature made a conscious choice to involve private lawyers in what gives every appearance of an attempt -albeit poorly disguised - to cloak the private machinations of Wisconsin's Republican legislators in the shroud of attorney-client privilege. What could have - indeed should have - been accomplished publicly instead took place in private, in an all but shameful attempt to hide the redistricting process from public scrutiny."
The Republicans in Wisconsin are finally being called out for their intimidation, secrecy and lies.
We now have a glimpse into why the Republicans fought so hard to keep the documents secret.
Operation Angry Badger: Out-of-State Influence of Recall Elections and Attack on Workers' Rights
According to the New York Times, a Chicago non-profit organization has a plan to use $612,000 to influence our recall elections and other battles over workers' rights called "Operation Angry Badger." The plan was uncovered in leaked documents from the Heartland Institute, a non-profit member of ALEC supported in part by the Koch brothers.
blue cheddar dug through the documents and found some interesting stuff. On page 13 of the Heartland Institute's 2012 Fundraising Plan they list 5 projects in Wisconsin:
You can't make this stuff up.
blue cheddar has more information on donors and thanks "labor advocate and radio producer Brett Banditelli who read the document in full and directed I and other bloggers to this attack on Wisconsin. Here’s his twitter and I think you’ll want to check out his work at The Rick Smith Show." The New York Times has other background information.
How many other well-funded organizations from outside Wisconsin have a similar plan?
blue cheddar dug through the documents and found some interesting stuff. On page 13 of the Heartland Institute's 2012 Fundraising Plan they list 5 projects in Wisconsin:
- Recruit and promote superintendents who support Act 10 (collective bargaining rights-stripping bill)
- Explain the benefits of Act 10
- Document the shortcomings of public schools in Wisconsin
- Expose teacher pay in key districts
- Create blogs that shadow small town newspaper coverage of the controversy
You can't make this stuff up.
blue cheddar has more information on donors and thanks "labor advocate and radio producer Brett Banditelli who read the document in full and directed I and other bloggers to this attack on Wisconsin. Here’s his twitter and I think you’ll want to check out his work at The Rick Smith Show." The New York Times has other background information.
How many other well-funded organizations from outside Wisconsin have a similar plan?
Democrats Push for Redistricting by GAB Bill
According to WPR, the Democrats will push today for a vote on a bill they introduced last July in the Wisconsin Assembly to change the way we handle redistricting every 10 years. The bill calls for the GAB to draw up new maps, and then the maps would go to the legislature to be voted on. If the maps don't pass, they're sent back to the GAB.
Such a bill would prevent any more secret gerrymandering in the future, but Republicans are expected to block it.
Such a bill would prevent any more secret gerrymandering in the future, but Republicans are expected to block it.
Scott Walker Has Miraculously Recovered from Debilitating Flu
Thank God, I didn't want him to miss his meeting with his REAL bosses at the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) today. According to Scott Walker's latest tweets, he miraculously recovered from the flu that prevented him from visiting Master Lock, a union shop, with the President yesterday.
Walker first tweeted that he was sick on Tuesday morning. Wednesday morning, he tweeted that he was "still recovering from a nasty case of the flu," and then a few hours later, just after his scheduled meeting with President Obama was to take place, he tweeted that he was feeling better.
One wonders why he didn't want to go to a successful union workplace with the President who's increased private-sector jobs every month for the past 23 consecutive months. Probably 'cause that's not Walker's tune: success, job creation and unions.
Disgraceful.
Join the Wisconsin Wave in protesting at Walker's meeting
Walker first tweeted that he was sick on Tuesday morning. Wednesday morning, he tweeted that he was "still recovering from a nasty case of the flu," and then a few hours later, just after his scheduled meeting with President Obama was to take place, he tweeted that he was feeling better.
"...glad I'm feeling better after some rest.I gave Walker the benefit of the doubt yesterday, believing he was sick while others doubted. However, his quick and timely recovery, allowing him to skip just the successful union shop, looks very suspicious. We all knew he wouldn't miss time in front of the media or his meeting with some of his biggest campaign supporters at the WMC lobby group early this afternoon.
After a good afternoon of rest, was able to host Hispanic leaders for discussion of expanding prosperity & opportunity."
One wonders why he didn't want to go to a successful union workplace with the President who's increased private-sector jobs every month for the past 23 consecutive months. Probably 'cause that's not Walker's tune: success, job creation and unions.
Disgraceful.
Join the Wisconsin Wave in protesting at Walker's meeting
"In protest the Wisconsin Wave will lead a picket and rally outside of the event to further expose and delegitimize this secretive, reactionary institution which literally wrote and funded most of the anti-worker, anti-family, anti-Wisconsin legislation forced through the legislature this past year.
WMC and its undisclosed industry backers are the entities who really run the show in Wisconsin, no matter who is in power. Join us as we call out WMC for their role in buying our democracy (more on this below) and advancing their extremist right-wing agenda."
Scott Walker Doesn't Care About Victims, Willfully Stealing
Repeated and passionate calls by many prominent people and organizations for Walker to reverse his decision to steal money from victims have fallen on deaf ears. It's become quite evident that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker doesn't care about victims of document fabrication, forgery and other financial service abuses. Walker announced plans last week to steal that money to help fix his budget deficit of over $3 billion.
Walker has also shown how little he cares about getting Wisconsin moving forward again. Wisconsin will continue to suffer as long as the families and communities in need of this money continue to suffer. Milwaukee itself has large swaths of affected areas, and the $31.6 million Walker plans to steal won't even be enough for a full recovery. The settlement money is desperately needed, but Walker doesn't care.
Walker is supposedly one of those governors who doesn't use "one-time fixes" such as settlement money. In Walker's Budget Repair Address nearly a year ago, he criticized previous governors for taking money from the tobacco settlement.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has called on us to contact both Walker and Attorney General Van Hollen to try to convince them to not steal money from victims to solve Walker's budget problems.
Contact Scott Walker:
Walker has also shown how little he cares about getting Wisconsin moving forward again. Wisconsin will continue to suffer as long as the families and communities in need of this money continue to suffer. Milwaukee itself has large swaths of affected areas, and the $31.6 million Walker plans to steal won't even be enough for a full recovery. The settlement money is desperately needed, but Walker doesn't care.
Walker is supposedly one of those governors who doesn't use "one-time fixes" such as settlement money. In Walker's Budget Repair Address nearly a year ago, he criticized previous governors for taking money from the tobacco settlement.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has called on us to contact both Walker and Attorney General Van Hollen to try to convince them to not steal money from victims to solve Walker's budget problems.
Contact Scott Walker:
- Phone: (608) 266-1212
- Contact Form: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/Contact-Us
- Email: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov
Contact Attorney General Van Hollen:
- Phone: (608) 266-1221
Wisconsin GOP in Disarray
Scott Walker and his Super PACs can't stop lying about his mythical balanced budget, and Walker has now resorted to stealing from victims to help plug his hole*. He "called in sick" instead of join President Obama to visit the union shop Master Lock in Milwaukee.
The GOP is still fighting tooth-and-nail to keep their secret gerrymandering operation a secret.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald threw a tantrum Tuesday, just before adjourning the Senate until 12:01 AM Wednesday, so he could ram through a disastrous wetlands bill. Later Wednesday, Fitzgerald abruptly, and without notice to some Republicans, disbanded the committee setup to create an acceptable mining bill to replace the Assembly's industry-written bill.
The Wisconsin GOP is flailing. They're making quick strategic decisions that aren't very strategic, and they hold all the cards. Even with their millions from out-of-state donors, the Republicans are clearly worried about their upcoming recall elections.
Other people are seeing the same dysfunction.
Help keep the heat on them by contacting them as well as your legislators to tell them how you feel. Tell your friends and family too, politely. People are starting to listen. Sticking to facts you know, and admitting when you don't, goes a long way.
Maybe the Republicans will accidentally vote in Wisconsin's interests before we recall them.
*The hole was created due to Walker's tax reductions and sustained job loss.
The GOP is still fighting tooth-and-nail to keep their secret gerrymandering operation a secret.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald threw a tantrum Tuesday, just before adjourning the Senate until 12:01 AM Wednesday, so he could ram through a disastrous wetlands bill. Later Wednesday, Fitzgerald abruptly, and without notice to some Republicans, disbanded the committee setup to create an acceptable mining bill to replace the Assembly's industry-written bill.
The Wisconsin GOP is flailing. They're making quick strategic decisions that aren't very strategic, and they hold all the cards. Even with their millions from out-of-state donors, the Republicans are clearly worried about their upcoming recall elections.
Other people are seeing the same dysfunction.
Help keep the heat on them by contacting them as well as your legislators to tell them how you feel. Tell your friends and family too, politely. People are starting to listen. Sticking to facts you know, and admitting when you don't, goes a long way.
Maybe the Republicans will accidentally vote in Wisconsin's interests before we recall them.
*The hole was created due to Walker's tax reductions and sustained job loss.
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