Outsider Tea Party Squatters not happy with Hudson Turnout.

Here's KSTP's coverage of the Hudson tea party bus tour stopover. The outsider Tea Party Express didn't like getting drowned out by those leftist Wisconsin born citizens.

Tea party loon: These unions, and these leftist groups have been in this state organizing for months and months. We just got here...."

Doh!

Recall Elections Jeopardize Democracy? You can make this stuff up, if you're the far right wing

As a Democrat and liberal, I don’t recognize the people conservatives write about in their effort to take a shot at us. I’m sure you’ve realized by now they’re describing how they would react, what they would do, if the tables were turned. Remember ramming health down their throats over a years’ time, actually 70 years’ time, when it only took 5 months to undo every Democratic change made over the last 8 years in Wisconsin?  So here is another insight into the conservative paranoid mind…projecting:

Democracy Shrugged in Wisconsin Slugfest By Gary Larson : Don't look now, but a vital part of democracy itself is on trial, if not in jeopardy, if events go the way pushy forces on the left fervently desire. Public union officials view government, their members' employer, as a never-empty ATM machine funded by OPM (Other People's Money).

Another example of projection. First, dues come out of member’s earnings, not OPM. How is it projection? Republicans have a long line of contributors waiting for government contracts that will surely empty that ATM machine filled with OPM. Example: Vouchers, road builders.

They would toss over the cliff budget-minded legislators with "Rs" after their names, in favor of a more manipulative bunch.  Such as those lily-livered 14 Democrat senators who skipped to Illinois in February, on union bosses' orders, rather than participate in rational budget reform.  

Liberals, and for that matter, the Wisconsin 14, don’t take orders like conservatives must be guilty of.

If it pans out the special elections would subvert the democratic process.  Union leaders will have taken their members' dues, often involuntarily taken, to overturn results of the last regularly-scheduled election. Mediatracker (www.mediatracker.org) Brian Sikma gives us the answer:

"Their agenda thwarted by voters in one election, they [progressives and the left] were not to be stopped from forcing a new election. In banana republics, forcing new elections because a powerful cabal didn't like the outcome of a recent election is hardly viewed as democratic."

Teachers mostly, many with bogus, deceitful "sick" excuses left their classrooms (being paid, in effect, to protest), closing down some schools, to march mob-like to the Capitol.

In their fury they ripped up public property, occupied the Capitol, chanted slogans and sang a lot, something about "overcoming" as if this was a civil rights deal instead of a union-initiated power struggle.  Protesters posted hateful signs.   One depicted Gov. Walker as hate object Emmanuel Goldstein in George Orwell's dystopian novel, "1984." 

So let the rich, a group already paying taxes through their nostrils, flee the state.  Who cares? Heck, who needs the rich, anyhow? All John Galts, well, they can go to hell. Reeks of garden variety socialism, doesn't it?  Friends such as AFSCME help stir the boiling cauldron. As for the poor,  they can go to hell, victims of the me-first class of privileged public servants.

A governing class of a special interest would retain the power to tax on a Robin Hood scale, or worse, as in a socialists' paradise. In which case God help us all, rich or poor, in such a democracy diminished.  Yes, this could happen in America. 

State Turns Down Federal Money to Help Residents find Health Care and Access Badgercare for Kids.

ABC Health found that two of their federal grant requests for $9 million to help Wisconsinites navigate the state health care system, and tell families about Badgercare for Children were turned down by the state.

The problem; the fewer people that know about Badgercare, the less it will cost the state. The state insists they're only trying to avoid maintenance funding in the future when the grant runs out, at which point, it would be silly to help kids get health care then too. WKOW TV News:

Rick Santorum: "The government wants your children as fast as they can...so they can indoctrinate them into exactly what they want them to be."

Republican presidential candidate Rick "man on dog" Santorum is not an aberration in the new conservative movement. Conspiratorial paranoia sells? Santorum goes after the idea of an educated public, by casting suspicion over early childhood classes. You can't get more sinister than this. Al Sharpton takes off on "Raving Rick."

Odds and Ends: Bachmann, Tea Party and Michelle Litjens.

This is what tea party crazy looks like...

They're starting to spook the horses...

Wisconsin's own Michele Bachmann....

Tea Party Trash "Leaders," tell Tens of Listeners Liberals Killed a Billion People, and “we’re going to polish off the enemy in November 2012.”

The newly empowered Tea Party movement, thanks to Obama’s legitimizing debt deal, has decided to not only return our nation to time before social safety nets, but to the political perversity of 1930’s Germany:

Andy Kroll of Mother Jones: Yesterday I reported that Judson Phillips, the founder of the Tea Party Nation group now touring Wisconsin to support the six GOP state senators facing recall elections on Tuesday, compared Wisconsinites who protested Republican Gov. Scott Walker to Adolf Hitler's Nazi storm troopers. The day before, Phillips claimed Democrats in Wisconsin wanted to "break the back of conservatives in Wisconsin" with the recalls … As Politico reports, Phillips told a north Milwaukee crowd that "the left" and its beliefs have "killed a billion people in the last century."

"I will tell you ladies and gentlemen, I detest and despise everything the left stands for. How anybody can endorse and embrace an ideology that has killed a billion people in the last century is beyond me."

There are some in our state that would believe this madness. But it gets worse:

Vince Schmuki, a leader of the Ozaukee Patriot tea party group compared the recall effort to a terrorist attack. "This is ground zero," said Schmuki. "You remember what the term ground zero means? We have been attacked. Tuesday is going to be the beginning of our takeover. And we're going to follow it up the following week and then we're going to polish off the enemy in November 2012. Who's with me?"

So…the liberal left are the ones who are like Nazi’s? If conservatives truly believe the extermination of their liberal enemy is they’re only solution, I wonder how the other two thirds of the country would feel about that idea.

Gov. Scott Walker makes his Presence Known at State Fair....

What a time to kill the State Fair? In this economy, what was needed more than anything in Milwaukee was the State Fair, a sure money maker and great escape from Fitzwalkerstan. But, after the violent fighting and roving mod of thugs, the adults punted:

New rules were implemented requiring that all people under 18 entering the fairgrounds after 5 p.m. be accompanied by a parent or a legal guardian over the age of 21.

An outrageously ridiculous overreaction and a State Fair killer. This will not help set any attendance records. When I lived in Milwaukee, all I needed was an excuse not to go, just one. It looks like Milwaukee just gave a lot of current and future fair goers that one excuse to pass on the event. But the needless power play by Gov. Walker sending in the State Police? Milwaukee can't handle this?

jsonline: In addition, Gov. Scott Walker ordered the State Police to help keep order.

Cullen Werwie, Walker's spokesman, said the governor made the decision after reviewing the events from Thursday night, in which at least 24 people were arrested. "We will continue to evaluate the situation and make any adjustments necessary to ensure a successful and safe event. We will be doing everything in our power to ensure that parents feel that it is safe to bring their children to the world's best fair," Werwie said in a statement.

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn also promised additional police protection at the fair and other weekend activities around the city. The fair's entire police staff of 80 was on the job Saturday. Visitors Saturday said the additional police presence was comforting.

Tea Party Trailer Trash Flop in Hudson. Over 100 Protesters Crash Mad Hatters Party.

I can't tell you how much I hate these low information lackey's for corporate freedom. Funny thing though, it looks like there's a lot of other Wisconsinites who feel pretty much the same way, and they turned out to tell Tea Party Express vagrants.

As you can see by the bottom right picture, the big event...wasn't. More protesters can be seen than Walker Tea Party supporters. The article here said 300, but really, come on.

Hudson Patch: More than 300 turned out to Hudson's Lakefront Park bandshell for the Tea Party rally Friday afternoon, including more than 100 opposition protesters turned out Friday to disrupt the arrival of the bus tour at the Hudson Band Shell in Lakefront Park shortly after noon, shouting and jeering throughout the presentations of nearly a dozen speakers. Featuring musical acts and speeches by several Tea Party leaders, the Tea Party Express is a national bus tour traveling across the state of Wisconsin Protesters chanted and jeered the speakers throughout the presentations shouting "Go home" throughout the hour-and-a-half rally and, at one point even began chanting "Racist."

Responding specifically to shouts of "Go home," by several protesters off stage, Judson Phillips, founder of Tea Party Nation, responded to the audience: "These people probably come from a trailer park because they don't have real jobs," he said. "Why don't you go home?"

Hudson Police Officer Geoff Willems told Patch We had some cookies thrown and some cameras pushed away, but that was about it." 

Check out all the photos: Freelance photographer Keith Crowley has posted a photo gallery of more than 40 photos from today's rally and demonstration.  See the gallery

Republicans no longer have to compromise or care. Gov. Rick Perry leads movement by erasing constitutional boundaries.

I wasn't really following the possible candidacy of Rick Perry, until I read the following activities by this vocal supporter of the Constitution, who's also determined to blur the lines of our founding document because...he wants too. What Republicans have found is that there is no counter weight or push back from an opposing party anymore, no way to stop them from doing whatever they want. Whether Obama's debt compromise was good or bad, the overriding result was empowering a now unstoppable conservative agenda. 

NY Times: In April, as Texas reeled from wildfires and a drought, Gov. Rick Perry sought assistance from the federal government, but also from a higher power … asked the state to pray for rain, issuing an official proclamation that “I, Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, 2011, as Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas.” Perry signed legislation requiring that women under the age of 18 get parental consent before having an abortion at a Fort Worth school run by an evangelical Christian church. Five weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, Mr. Perry bowed his head and said “amen” as a Baptist pastor led a prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. The prayer was at a student assembly in a public middle school in East Texas.

Afterward, Mr. Perry said he had no problem ignoring the Supreme Court’s landmark 1962 ruling that barred organized prayer in public schools.

In Houston, thousands of people are expected to gather at Reliant Stadium for a Christian-themed prayer service that Mr. Perry created and promoted … emphasizing his Christian beliefs and blurring the line between church and state … The rally is being organized and financed by the American Family Association, an evangelical organization listed as an antigay hate group by the nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center.

“At 27 years old, I knew that I’d been called to the ministry,” Mr. Perry said “I’ve just always been really stunned by how big a pulpit I was going to have. I still am. I truly believe with all my heart that God has put me in this place at this time to do His will.”

But the no apologies Republican Party has finally realized that compromise no longer needs to be an issue, and pushing a pure faith based agenda is “no problem” because like Perry said, it’s okay to ignore any and all constitutional violations. 

More Authoritarian chit chat, this time from Tonette Walker.

Tonette Walker couldn't help show off her and her husbands more authoritarian side with her recent appearance on WPT's Here and Now.

Tonette: "...there are two sides. Somebody wins, somebody loses. After you win, you're in office, your agenda, you get to do things you wanna do. If people don't like it, the public don't like it, take a vote, you know...a referendum, four years down the road, or two years down the road, whatever it may be, you know, campaign just like Scott did, then be elected again and change things."

That was easy? Just wait for your turn to run and stop whining. I wasn't aware the governor could get to "do things" he wanted to do, without running it by the voters first. They didn't give the winning party free run of the state. "If people don't like it..." go screw yourself till the next election. I hardly think a total change in government, in just 5 months, allowed for much discussion. Just saying.

Shelly Moore's Opponant, Sheila Harsdorf says: "We have enacted major changes in how government operates...change is tough."

Is there ever a time when our Republican state government officials don't say something outrageously authoritarian. These dictatorial partisans aren't afraid to flaunt their power. Take recalled 10th district Republican Sheila Harsdorf, defending her seat against the better candidate Democrat Shelly Moore.

Besides the often repeated insult that public anger in Wisconsin is somehow imported from out of state (aarrrr), Harsdorf brags:

Harsdorf: "What you're seeing now is a deep philosophical difference, and we have enacted MAJOR changes in how government operates. And, there's...there's, change is tough...I firmly believe, and I think we're beginning to see it, that as these reforms are implemented, people are going to see the benefits..." 

Amazing, isn't it? The arrogance of the Republican Party to think that a total conversion of our government to their ideological vision would be just fine for the other 2/3 of the states citizens. Why would anyone be pissed off?

Tea Party/Republican Stunt Causes S&P Ratings Downgrade for U.S.

And to think, the Republicans have threatened to do this phony debt ceiling crisis all over again. I tried to put the whole story together from bits and pieces of this coverage on MSNBC. Rachel Maddow talks to Barney Frank, Ezra Klein and Jared Bernstein. Good stuff!

Tea Party loves China, Like Recall candidate Kim Simac.

Tea party hypocrites are a dime a dozen. Like Ron Johnson's praise of China's business climate, and his love of "creative destruction," it shouldn't be to surprising to find another tea partier using the low wage slave labor in China to have her books published.

TPM: Here's a tip for the tea party Republican attempting to win a general election: don't let Democrats find out you employed Chinese labor to publish your books about American heroism.

Such is the fate of Kim Simac, a tea party leader founder and Republican party choice … against incumbent Democratic Sen. Jim Holperin. Simac was last seen scrubbing the web of her past writings comparing the public schools to Nazi Germany. Now she's stuck having to explain away why her uber-patriotic children's books are published in China.

Kathleen Marsh, a author and publisher who had her last book printed right in Simac's hometown of Eagle River, WI. … Marsh makes a compelling case that Simac could've found an American printer if she wanted, suggesting that Simac went with Chinese printing -- as so many children's book authors these days do, she told TPM -- to save money.

Conservative Authoritarians Coming out of Closet, Would like to Vilify and Crush the Dissenters in Wisconsin.

The wacky conservative extremist news rag Powerline, posted this incredible story, and I do mean story...like fiction.

Just more of that "ramped up" public anger over their elected representatives extremist takeover of Wisconsin, where the majority Republicans just aren't listening. If anything, conservative media is fanning the fire by accusing outside groups and union thugs for the unrest, instead of an angry public-people like me, who haven't met one of these phantom menaces they've created. 

Here's Fox 6:

Left Wing Groups Transforming Wisconsin Politics? Or Fighting Back?

After watching conservative organizations buy our last two state Supreme Court justices, and big money getting a permission slip to spend endlessly from the Citizens United decision, we’re now being warned by the far right wing media that similar liberal actions…will destroy our democracy.

This is not only the most extreme case of projection I'v seen yet, but one of the most ironic. Katherine Kersten is a senior fellow at the Center of the American:

A phalanx of left-wing influence groups -- heavily dependent on government union power and money -- is transforming Wisconsin politics. With lavish funding, hardball tactics and national connections, they are ratcheting up statehouse politics to a level of intensity seen before only in high-profile, targeted congressional races.

We’ve never seen this before? Really?

In the process, these organizations are drowning out authentic grass-roots issues and voices, and are increasingly assuming functions traditionally performed by political parties.

Grassroots groups like Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Americans for Prosperity, the “tea party movement”…etc.

One Wisconsin Now serves as a 24/7 communications hub for left-wing issues … It coordinates messaging and strategy so the state's hundreds of progressive groups are on the same page.

The “herding cats party” is robotic in pushing the same repetitive message? I’m angry that I’ve never been on their list, or any list for that matter.

In February, when the union legislation was introduced, they mobilized on a massive scale -- rallying protestors and grabbing headlines across the nation. 

How dare they, sir. 

The command center for the left's mammoth recall effort is a new PAC called "We Are Wisconsin." It has field operations in every recall district, runs TV and radio ads, and oversees direct mail and phone banks.

Why can’t they just wait till the next election?

Kelly Steele, its spokesman, is a longtime national Democratic operative who is widely credited with turning around Sen. Harry Reid's campaign in Nevada in 2010, using tactics that allies have described as "cutthroat."

Only Rove, the Koch brothers, Fox News and Freedom Works are allowed cutthroat tactics.

And this is the most ironic part of this whole, down the rabbit hole article:

The consequences for representative government will be profound. As deep-pocket outside groups come to dominate statehouse-level politics, elected officials will increasingly find themselves playing a secondary role in government and policymaking. They will become bit players to mighty special interests.  

Liberal "Assassin" spotted in State Fair crowd during Walker Opening Ceremony protest!!!-MacIver Institute.

The far right wing fringe organization MacIver Institute, a "think tank" wanna-be, suggests in the video below that a liberal assassin was spotted in the State Fair crowd shouting in Latin, "sic semper tyrannis," or "Thus always to Tyrants."

As the voice over announcer reminds us, "Brutus said it before stabbing Caesar, John Wilkes Booth said it when he shot Lincoln." This "potential" quiche eating, wine sipping, Prius driving "killer," like the other 60 assembled thugs at the State Fair, were not welcome.  



TMJ4 described how after a few in the crowd began shouting, the whole crowd joined in. Great stuff. Here are all the scary details:

WEST ALLIS - Amidst the fun and frivolity of the State Fair's opening day, some protesters of Republican Governor Scott Walker's policies came and showed their disapproval when he spoke at the fair.

As Walker gave the last speech of the opening ceremony at the fair on Thursday morning, protesters yelled "Shame, shame, shame!"

"Weasel!  Weasel!" came from one of the protesters.

TODAY'S TMJ4's Diane Pathieu tells us that what began as 20 to 30 protesters eventually turned into twice that many people shouting during the duration of Walker's speech.

Walker claimed that the protests shouldn't stop the fun of the fair.

"Out of 800,000 people, out of 650-60 people, they have their right to do that," said Walker. "Most people who come to the fair will tell you they set aside politics and business and have a good time."

Gov. Walker Greeted by massive crowd of Boos at State Fair.

Here's what Gov. Walker's opening day speech looked like at the State Fair yesterday. I've put together all the clips I could find, so sit back, and enjoy the embarrassing Walker spectacle:



Conservative radio agitator Charlie Sykes thinks there's a time and a place for democracy. That should send up a few red flags all by itself to his listeners.

Public resentment of our governor's policies, "by the usual suspects" claims Sykes, should take a "family" break. That implies the same disruptive people rove around Wisconsin in a bus...oh, you know, like Americans for Prosperity?

Is the Republican/Tea Party Congress helping to inspire consumer spending?

Al Sharpton is taking on the tea party establishment with bottom line statements featured in the video clip below. How easy would it be to repeat this observation over and over?



Loved this comment:

Sharpton on tea party objective: "Some of your colleagues in the tea party caucus, and some of your colleagues there in the congress feel the way to inspire consumers is to cut their safety net, not generate jobs, threaten their social security, and throw in threatening their Medicaid and Medicare...that certainly makes people go out and shop and buy things."

Albert Darling Defends Walker's Tax Cuts for wealthy Wisconsinites that make up only 1 percent of our population..

MSNBC guest host Prof. Michael Eric Dyson trashes Alberta Darling for her obtuse comments about what constitutes a wealthy person. Besides only 2 percent of small business owners being effected by any tax increase on those making over $250,000 nationwide, Darling defends protecting only 1 percent of the wealthy in Wisconsin with Walker's tax cuts.

The Growing Equality Gap

This amazing look at the income inequity in America, from the view point of this Aljazeera production, is riveting and honest. It's long but worth it.

This week they released an episode called "The Top 1%" which explores the growing equality gap in the United States that has expanded by leaps and bounds over the last 30 years. It asks "How did the gap grow so wide, and so quickly? And how are the convictions, campaign contributions and charitable donations of the top 1% impacting the other 99% of Americans?"

Scott Walker's Air Traffic Controller Moment.

Rachel Maddow details Scott Walker's inspiration to bust up the unions, and at such an odd time too, right after the Packers won the Superbowl.

Tea Party Trash comes to Hudson...

For anyone who might be interested and document the "large" crowds. 

Patch: Tea Party Speakers Announced for Rally at Hudson's Lakefront Park

Confirmed speakers so far include Judson Philips, Amy Kremer, Eric Odom, Howard Kaloogian, Rep. John Murtha, Michael Krsiean and Annette Olson.

The Tea Party Express will be stopping in Hudson at noon on Friday, Aug. 5, for an afternoon rally in Lakefront Park, and Hudson Patch will stream live video of the event on the Hudson Patch Breaking News Channel.

Big Push for the most Destructive and Dumbest Legislation Congress has ever seen.

There's really no excuse for proposing something that puts future Congresses on the hook for, which may run counter to what needs to be done at the time, and has been describes as a straight jacket for government. Yeah, that's what it needs!!! 

NY Times: House Republicans, feeling they have scored significant fiscal victories, are moving on to an even bigger challenge: persuading voters, state legislatures and Democrats to alter the Constitution with a balanced budget amendment.

Speaker John A. Boehner told members that the best thing they could do during the August recess was to sell their constituents on the idea that the amendment — which essentially stipulates that government cannot spend more than it takes in — is necessary and good. They point out that such a measure passed the House in 1995, but then failed in the Senate by a single vote … 26 legislatures are dominated by Republicans.

The amendment … would require the acquiescence of two-thirds of each chamber of Congress, and three quarters of state legislatures.

"Scott Walker, MotherFuc*er!" song....

The guys in Astoria NY were reading our minds when they made this song. Picked this up at DailyKoz: 

Scott Walker, Motherfucker

(Words: Sam Rasiotis / Music: Sam Rasiotis, Sean Wiggins, John Coakley)

This is not an accident this is by design
The governor in his ivory tower surrounded by picket signs
Scott Walker motherfucker what did we ever do to you?
Now the finest work song's ringing out and we're gonna burry you

Oh yeah! Stand up to the bully
Oh no! Is he calling in the National Guard?
Oh yeah! We're storming the capitol
Madison is ours tonight (you've got the numbers)
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Little Monster
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Little Monster
Put your golden crown back on the shelf
Cause there's a special place for you in hell
When Wisconsin's Little Monster he says give back
We'll say fight back, fight back, fight and we will win
You motherfucker!

Conspiracy of senators in the shameful dark of night
You started the war and won the battle but we're gonna win the fight
The workers road is long and steep, it's a trail of blood and scars
If you don't fall like emperors, we'll take you out like czars

Oh yeah! Stand up to the bully
Oh no! Is he calling in the National Guard?
Oh yeah! We're storming the capitol
Madison is ours tonight (you've got the numbers)
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Little Monster
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Little Monster
Put your golden crown back on the shelf
Cause there's a special place for you in hell
When Wisconsin's Little Monster he says give back
We'll say fight back, fight back, fight and we will win
You motherfucker!

Oh yeah! Knock-a-knock out the bully
Oh yeah! Standing tall in the rain, wind and snow
Oh yeah! Solidarity forever
Victory is ours tonight (you've got the numbers)
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Little Monster
Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin's Little Monster
Put your golden crown back on the shelf
Cause there's a special place for you in hell
When Wisconsin's Little Monster he says give back
We'll say fight back, fight back, fight and we will win
You motherfucker!

And that golden crown falls to the floor
When the people show you the door
When Wisconsin's little monster tried to take back
We said fuck that, fight back, fight back, fight back,
Fight back, fight back, fight and we will win
You motherfucker! We will win, we will win...

Colbert Strikes Back: Americans for Prosperity brunt of jokes over Absentee Ballot Mistakes.

If you're a comedian, how could you not take a shot at the most blatant form of election fraud imaginable.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Wisconsin's Senator Recall Election
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Darling debate highlights: "If you don't like what's happening, make a change in the next election." You know, sit down and shut up.

You know that old argument, "elections have consequences?" You'll hear Sen. Alberta Darling use it to describe her party's takeover of state government. Here's a little tip for Darling; it's not a great way to win over the crowd, since a "consequences" sounds more like a penalty.

Recall challenger Sandy Pasch has to remind Darling "that democracy doesn't end at elections."

You might also remember that elections in the past four years were tainted by the Republican ploy of avoiding the "lame stream" media, appearing instead in the echo chamber of conservative talk radio, without ever revealing their plans in office. So naturally, voters had no idea what was about to hit them, especially in 2010:

Darling: "I was elected in 2008 to do the job I'm doing. And I'm being recalled because I led the fight to do what you told us to do in 2010."

Who knew breaking up the unions, voter ID, dramatically cutting school funding and corporate welfare were all issues the public had on their "to do" list? Fox 6:

Did Recall Elections Force Republicans to Reverse Closing DMV's?

I guess some efforts to suppress voter turnout are more obvious than others:

jsonline: The Division of Motor Vehicles reversed course Thursday and announced it will maintain all of its licensing centers and will open four new locations across the state.

Under an original proposal, the department said it may close 16 locations and open nine new locations. DMV Operations Manager Patrick Fernan said pressure from the Legislature and citizens to keep the DMV accessible led to the decision not to close any branches. "It became clear that there was a strong desire to maintain service in all current locations," Fernan said.

The new DMV locations will be in Viroqua (Vernon County), Alma (Buffalo County), south Eau Claire/Fall Creek (Eau Claire County) and Keshena (Menominee County). 

The Republicans show-off successful political tactic, after debt ceiling win, with FAA Standstill.

Whether Obama won the debt ceiling deal or not isn't the issue, it's what he has handed the Republicans as their ultimate weapon, no compromise. I'm not sure there's really anything anyone can do but play their bluff, let the country go to hell, and see how far they'll go to inflict their ideological pain on society.

Even with this message, polling has shown Obama losing to Mitt Romney. I fear that by the time Americans wake up, we'll have lost the ability to take it all back.

Here Al Sharpton and Rep. Donna Edwards register the necessary outrage, over the lost jobs and government revenues;

Wisconsin Farm Family Featured in Toby Keith song

I liked Toby Keith after his appearance on the Colbert Christmas Special, but still mostly hate his over the top uber-American music. But despite the massive amount of patriotic syrup, Made in American  is Wisconsin. The only reason I'm mentioning it here, and posting the song, is that the concert footage is from Keith's appearance at Summerfest, and the family featured in the video hail from the Town of Addison, and their farm.

Warning, the flag waving self righteousness is overpowering, almost debilitating. Just posting it here on Democurmudgeon might make the site implode like the house at the end of the movie Poltergeist.

Fox 6: The farm of a Washington County family is featured prominently in the new Toby Keith music video for his single, "Made In America." Most of the music video was shot at Summerfest during Keith's visit to the Big Gig on July 1st and later at the family farm. The Town of Addison farm featured in the Keith video is owned by Bob and Mary Ihlenfeld. It's been a part of Bob's family since 1953. Mary Ihlenfeld tells FOX6Now.com, the Keith producers found their farm through an interesting set of circumstances.


Mary's daughter-in-law Carly had a friend who was friends with an associate producer for the Keith crew. The rest is history. Ihlenfeld says the Keith video crew came to their farm on July 3rd and 4th. She says their farm was selected in large part because their farmhouse was exactly what the producers were looking for; traditional Americana. It didn't hurt that the Ihlenfelds also hung bunting on their porch to celebrate the 4th of July.

While the Ihlenfeld's farm is the "star" of the music video, a snapshot of Mary and Bob and then another with their family is featured in the video. There's also video of a couple of their grandsons jumping off a lake platform and enjoying a slip-and-slide.

Panicky Republicans Play Victim; After Holding Americans and the Economy Hostage, claim the Truth is Unfair.

The fallout for Republicans may be big, or it may be forgotten completely by next week, over holding a gun to the head of our hostage nation and threatening to take it down. Here's three great responses. First, Lawrence O'Donnell sums up what we're going to see from here on out from the Republicans. On another note, O'Donnell gets some classic Alan Simpson comebacks and possible solution to the problem. I'm very skeptical of Simpson's plan that supposedly lower rates, cut loopholes and increases revenue. But if the CBO comes back with a decent report, well, we'll see.




I liked this analysis from Prof. Michael Eric Dyson and Bill Maher.



Here Al Sharpton and Dana Milbank respond to the irony of Sarah Palin's comments over the hostage and terrorist references, all the while accusing Obama of paling around with "terrorists" like Bill Ayres.

Great coverage of the Hopper/King recall race.

Fox 6's recall series is the best I've seen, and pretty balanced. Randy Hopper's whining is especially grating. The overall message is clear from the recalled Republicans; we can do anything we want, wait till the next election, sit down and shut up:

West Bend Gay-Straight Alliance wins Federal Court Battle for Recognition.

Great news from from West Bend, and a victory for gay rights in their district high schools. I’m posting this energizing student protest video, I never had a chance to use, to show how incredible it was to see this kind of on campus activism. They made it happen…along with a bunch of lawyers:

jsonline: A federal judge decided that the West Bend School Board must recognize the Gay-Straight Alliance as an official school-sponsored club at the district’s high schools.

The decree also prohibits any current or future board members from retaliating against the club or anyone affiliated with it while under the court’s supervision for the next seven years. If the school board violates the terms of the agreement while under court supervision, the GSA can ask the same federal judge to enforce its ruling without having to file litigation again.

Waring Fincke, a lawyer for the club, said “The judge’s order is as clear as a bunch of lawyers can make it.”

The dispute began when the school board denied the student group official status — even though the club had been meeting unofficially for years —  at its May 9 meeting. Official recognition allows a club to be in the yearbook, raise money on campus, post information in the schools and use the schools’ equipment and resources. 

Shaving cream interview; another Brewer, Casey McGehee bat crazy.

No, I don't care much for baseball, but I couldn't help notice how bizarre the simple post game interviews are getting. Add to the Nyjer Morgan antics, this from Casey McGehee:

Tea Party Pushes Town Halls Promoting the End of Medicare as we Know It. This will be fun.

Is this going to be the most interesting in your face, disastrous idea yet from the Tea-vangelist movement?

I am going to love showing up at any one of these town halls. They really going to do it. It moves the debate far right, no doubt about it, but the folks around these parts didn't cotton to the Paul Ryan plan. Not one bit.

The Hill: Tea Party-affiliated group FreedomWorks will mobilize its supporters to attend town halls in swing states and demand that congressmen support House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget, which included a plan to privatize Medicare — a plan most House Republicans voted for. "The August town halls are going to be, potentially, a referendum on Democrats who don't care and Republicans who've dared to offer real policy solutions," FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe told Reuters on Wednesday.  

Dare to offer a real crazy solution, more like it. You know, just because your plan is the only one out there, which is incorrect (Affordable Care Act), doesn't make it a good idea. Please, this is too nice a gift for the upcoming election. 

Fringe Radicals -Wisconsin Right to Life and Family Action, Caught Paying for Votes.

While Republicans try like hell to portray Democratic challengers as devious con artists illegally buying votes, actual proof has turned up showing the radical fringe group Wisconsin Right to Life and Family Action coalition offered gift cards for votes. Again, another example of projection from our Republican election fraud friends.

jsonline: A Milwaukee County prosecutor is examining allegations that abortion opponents offered rewards for volunteers who signed up sympathetic voters in Wisconsin's high-stakes Senate recall elections.

According to an email obtained by the Journal Sentinel, the Wisconsin Right to Life and Family Action coalition offered gift cards ranging from $25 to $75 to volunteers who hit targets for persuading voters to fill out absentee ballot applications in the July recall primary elections. State law prohibits offering voters anything of value to vote.

A "$25 gift card or gas card reward for any volunteer who can get at least 15 pro-life/pro-family voters (and family and friends) to complete an absentee ballot application" by July 5. A "$75 gift card or gas card reward for the volunteer in each Senate district who gets the most absentee ballot applications completed" by July 5.

Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf, who prosecutes election law violations, said he had been "advised by the Milwaukee County Election Commission and the (city) clerk of Glendale that Wisconsin Right to Life may have been offering things of value in exchange for signing up pro-life people to vote by absentee ballot in the Alberta Darling recall election." Landgraf said he was reviewing the issue.

You can bet the WRL lawyers will be on their way. 

$129 billion a year lost to nation, household incomes will fall more than $7,000, if infrastructure is not improved. So goes the Tea Party Movement.

While tea party draconians demand ridiculous spending cuts, while enjoying glowing media reporting, the nation’s real solutions require job creating investments (spending) for future prosperity. Jonathan Alter mentioned the following report lost in the inane debt ceiling debate:

WP: The nation’s long-term transportation needs; decaying roads, bridges, railroads and transit systems are costing the United States $129 billion a year, according to a report issued Wednesday by a professional group whose members are responsible for designing and building such infrastructure.

Complex calculations done for the American Society of Civil Engineers indicate that infrastructure deficiencies add $97  billion a year to the cost of operating vehicles and result in travel delays that cost $32 billion.

“If investments in surface transportation infrastructure are not made soon, these costs are expected to grow exponentially,” the ASCE said. “Within 10 years, U.S. businesses would pay an added $430 billion in transportation costs, household incomes would fall by more than $7,000, and U.S. exports will fall by $28 billion.” It is the latest of several reports to predict dire consequences if the nation does not swiftly address the need to rebuild 60-year-old highway systems and rail lines often far older than that.

In May, a report by the Urban Land Institute warned that the United States is falling behind three emerging economic competitors: Brazil, China and India …  issue addressed last year by 80 experts concluded that as much as $262 billion a year must be spent on U.S. highways, rail networks and air transportation systems.

Unable to agree on long-term aviation funding, Congress proved incapable last week of passing a simple extension of current funding levels, something it has done 20 times since funding for the Federal Aviation Administration losing an estimated $30 million a day in airline ticket tax revenue.
Rep. Nick J. Rahall II said the ASCE report underscored the folly of efforts to “do more with less.”
“Slashing investments by one-third, as Republicans have proposed to do, will make the economic impact on America’s middle class even worse than the grim predictions by the economists in this report.”

The ASCE report predicted that without infrastructure investment, 870,000 jobs would be lost and economic growth would be stifled to the tune of $3.1 trillion by 2020. To avert that, the report says, will require an investment of about $1.7  trillion by 2020.

Ultimately, Americans would get paid less, the ASCE report says. The economy would lose jobs, and the paychecks of those who are able to find work would be cut by nearly 30 percent. The cost of a crumbling transportation system was described by Steven Landau of Boston’s Economic Development Research Group, which did the research for the ASCE. “Business will have to divert increasing portions of earned income to pay for transportation delays and vehicle repairs, draining money that would otherwise be invested in innovation and expansion,” Landau said.

Come Back Doctors, the State will once again help you pay for Your Medical Errors!

Free market my ***. It’s tiring to continue to play this foolish game of lies with Republican ideologues. 

Walker made the $233.7 million payment (money illegally transferred out by Gov. Doyle), and that includes interest.

There is nothing free market about the state collecting doctor fees to pay for expensive malpractice damages, so those same physicians get a price break from insurers. That’s picking winners and losers isn't it? It also allows the insurance industry to continue to gouge doctors instead of everyone dealing with the problem of patient injury or deaths.

But the bigger line of pure BS flows like a broken sewer pipe:

WRN: The Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund is “delightfully secure again,” so says Wisconsin Medical Society Senior Vice President Tim Bartholow, MD. 

But it was the “UNCERTAINTY” that caused what...? An unprovable lie about scaring doctors away?

Bartholow says the uncertainty of the fund had an indirect effect on doctors’ confidence and likelihood of practicing medicine in our state. “There are physicians I know that made decisions to not come to this state. It was harder for us to recruit … because there was this contention over the fund.”

Talk about the far right wing beating a meaningless talking point to death; the "uncertainty" factor. Enough already. Hey Bartholow, take your problem up with malpractice insurers….

Another Song, Another Recall and Hopefully, Another Governor.

DowntownDailies.com came up with this nicely produced anthem "Scott Walker Blues." Loved the protest video clips too.

If I had a radio show or Vlogcast (in the works), this could be a possible theme. Enjoy!

Brewer Nyjer Morgan, aka Tony Gumble, Tony Plush or T-Dot, is making baseball interesting again.

My conservative friend is constantly trying to get me to pay attention to the Brewers. With a character like Nyjer Morgan on the roster, I may pay more attention to the after game interviews.

jsonline: His all-out, fearless style of play already has endeared him to Milwaukee fans. So, too, has his fun-loving approach to the game and persona, one that includes a self-styled alter ego named "Tony Plush."

Q. You brought up Tony Plush. You also go by T-Dot. Explain the genesis of your alter ego, or "gentleman's name," as you call it, for the uninitiated.

A. Basically it was me and my crew. We called ourselves "The Rat Pack" back in the day back in San Jose (Calif.). Me and a few of my co-pilots, you could say, we basically were our own little crew. I was Tony Plush, we had my boy Frankie Sleaze, then there was my other boy, James dot Dean. We had fun with it, just a bunch of kids.

Debt Deal may end up Losing 1.8 Million Jobs by next year.

Always keep the following analysis in mind from this day forward. From Think Progress:

The Economic Policy Institute estimates that the deal struck this weekend to raise the nation’s debt limit will end up costing the economy 1.8 million jobs by 2012. But while the unemployment rate remains above 9 percent, the deal does nothing to address chronic joblessness.

The agreement would reduce spending by at least $1 trillion over 10 years, but even the near-term cuts could shrink already sluggish GDP growth by 0.3% in 2012. According to EPI, the plan “not only erodes funding for public investments and safety-net spending, but also misses an important opportunity to address the lack of jobs.” In particular, the immediate spending cuts and the “failure to continue two key supports to the economy (the payroll tax holiday and emergency unemployment benefits for the long term unemployed) could lead to roughly 1.8 million fewer jobs in 2012.”

Top economists and CEO’s have also weighed in against the deal and said that GOP concessions to the Tea Party will cost our economy dearly. Pimco CEO Mohamed El-Erian warned that the deal will lead to less growth, more unemployment, and more inequality. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman called the plan “a disaster” and “an abject surrender” that will “depress the economy even further.”

The Center for American Progress’s Michael Ettlinger and Michael Linden argue that while the deal “goes straight in the wrong direction,” Congress can redeem itself by using the so-called “super committee” mandated by the bill to focus on job creation. “It’s especially important for the committee to produce a plan that creates jobs and spurs growth because the committee’s proposals will come on top of a set of already-dramatic spending cuts that will have adverse economic consequences.”

Democratic Challengers in Recalls looking Good, so far.

Here's the latest internal polling results from the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza:  

Wisconsin Democrats say that internal polling shows them leading in three out of six recall elections against state Senate Republicans and tied in the other three. The two Democratic state senators left defending their seats, according to party chairman Mike Tate, are “in very very strong shape.” 

Conservative Outside Group Gets Collective Bargaining Law Wrong in Ad, Promotes Democratic Challenger Fred Clark's Position.

Sure it's intentional.

I noticed at the end of this attack ad from Sen. Luther Olsen, that who ever produced it for the Presidential Coalition, didn't know or understand what was lost with the new law on collective bargaining. Sure the teachers can now negotiate a ridiculously small wage increase, but they can no longer do the same over class sizes, curriculum or needed input.

Yet the ad clearly states in the clip below: "But it's up to parents, teachers and educators to run our schools." 

Huh? Isn't that what challenger Fred Clark is fighting for? Doh!




Will voters really fall for this subtle attempt to separate the teachers from their former union rights?

Olbermann on the Debt Deal.

I kinda had the same feeling...

Justice for Justice Ann Walsh Bradley...anyone...?

According to this report by WKOW 27's Tony Galli, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting to see Justice David Prosser bounced off the court...ever. Thanks to DA Ismeal Osanne's gutless buck passing, and surrender to possible right wing criticism, if something does happen no ones going to remember or care.

See all the excuses and the amazing lack of volunteers to prosecute the case against Prosser in Galli's piece:

Fat, Drunk, GOP and an NRA Life Member Is No way to Go Through Life, Son

"..and then you add a half gallon of tequila..."

NRA Life Member Jarrod Martin (R-OH) was sagely profiled by moi several days back.

But I missed a key point.

No, not the fact he was found passed out drunk on the OH Speaker of the House's car  ('Mom...the fat NRA life member is passed out on my car...AGAIN!!'.)

But this tidbit:

On May 16, 2010, the night manager at the Residence Inn in Beavercreek called police about guests yelling and fighting on the fifth floor at 4:30 a.m. Officers found Martin and six other men “highly intoxicated” at a bachelor party. The men said they weren’t fighting; just having a “friendly wrestling match in their hotel room,” a Beavercreek police report said.
Martin’s parents were called to pick up the men and their belongings, according to the police report. Police noted that the room was tidied up and not damaged.

IOW, NRA Life Member Martin (R-OH) was 31 years old when police had his parents called to pick him and his buddies up from their drunken, purely-hetero, manly 'rasslin' match.

31.

(cross posted by JadeGold at Mikeb302000)

A Long Look at the Cowles vs Nusbaum race.

Who ever put these reports together did one hell of a job. More from Fox 6 in Milwaukee, this time a 7 minute look at the Sen. Rob Cowles and Nancy Nusbaum race:


 

A Great Look at the Clark vs Olsen Race.

Fox 6 in Milwaukee has put together an outstanding series of reports around the state detailing the recall elections. There's more to come. This one examines the race between Rep. Fred Clark and Sen. Luther Olsen:

 

Disgraced Former Assembly Speaker Jensen Helping Children Pick the Right Private Voucher School. Nice start Racine.

I remember when Scott Walker expanded the voucher system to Racine, the sh** hit the fan:  

AP-School leaders in Racine are urging Republicans who control the Legislature to remove a provision from the state budget allowing voucher schools in that city. Racine Unified School District Superintendent Jim Shaw said that vouchers in his city will result in the defunding of public education, raise property taxes and make it harder to balance the school budget without cutting positions.
 

Now parents are trying to adjust their comfort level with the new voucher reality. Parents now have to figure out how to interpret promotional fliers that claim that each of their choices are the best school around. Trust, but verify, right? But parental worries are justified when you consider who organized an informational meeting recently at a local sports complex.

RACINE: About 100 families stopped in during the first couple of hours;

“There are some parents who came with their applications filled out,” said Scott Jensen. He is senior adviser to the American Federation for Children and a former speaker of the state Assembly. The federation helped organize Sunday’s event and helped put together a similar application and information session for tonight.

Yes, that Scott Jensen. The one you’d trust your child’s education with? The same Scott Jensen, and former assembly speaker, who was:

Jsonline: convicted of three felonies and a misdemeanor in 2006, but the felonies were overturned on appeal. Jensen, who was convicted of a misdemeanor for using state resources to campaign … prevents him from running for future office because of a state constitutional provision that bars people from appearing on ballots if they have been convicted of a violation of the public trust.

He wants to help parents send their kids to private voucher schools, the new refuge for scoundrels.  

Debt Deal...Deals bad Hand to Military Benefits and Health Care.

The debt deal is starting to shudder through the our economy, as bits and pieces, representing specific cuts, are beginning to materialize. The flag waving Republicans and the tea party costumed freaks have only themselves to blame. 

(AP) — Cuts in health care, retirement and benefits for the military are all potential targets for cuts as the nation struggles to rein in spending, the top U.S. military officer told anxious troops on two warfronts. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than half of the defense budget is spent on personnel issues, ranging from pay and benefits to bonuses used to recruit and retain needed expertise. In Washington, the Pentagon had no immediate comment Tuesday on how the debt ceiling measure would affect defense operations.

Conservative Blogger posts Hitler and Gun Site Photos of Scott Walker- Miracle Worker!!!

Funny thing about conservative bloggers, they’re the ones posting Nazi and gun site photos of their own conservative politicians, and not the liberal Democratic blogs, like my own.

Check out these two pics from adjoining CONSERVATIVE sites: 

The Miracle in Wisconsin!!? That's the theme from writer Gary Wickert, who's article featured the pictures above at both conservative sites. Unlike Weasel Zippers, Pajamasmedia included the Hitler picture. Here's what Wickert wrote about Walker's miracle:

Over the past six months, Wisconsin has been nothing short of a miracle.  Wisconsin residents witnessing the miracle may well vote to keep the state solidly conservative. And with other states witnessing the miracle in Wisconsin, states across the country could …

Who is Gary Wickert? He's your everyday far right wing zealot, leading a "normal" life. We're all entitled to our own opinions, whether based in reality or fabricated from a bunch of unrelated stories like the ones in his article above (not included). But check out the last line in his bio:

Gary Wickert is a board-certified trial lawyer, living in Cedarburg, Wisconsin and currently serves as supervisor in the town of Cedarburg. In 1980, Gary finished second to Mr. T in NBC's nationally-televised "America's Toughest Bouncer" hosted by Bryant Gumbel. 

A real Dog Tale.

I couldn’t help find this story interesting, not for the “dog eats ring” topic, but the other contents of the dogs stomach, and the length of the local coverage and happy talk that followed. WEAU:

Bizarre, yes.

The real question is; did the anchors spend way to much time having fun with it. No.

I especially liked the “investigative” nature of the report. They made a dog that puked up a ring, half a tennis ball and hair clip actually sound...newsy.

JB Van Hollen's 49 Page Concealed Carry Department of Justice Handbook

How will we ever know what the rules are when we have to read through a whole 49 pages of rules and regulations...? 

Brookfield Patch: Saying the concealed carry law has raised significant questions under review, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen today answered frequently asked questions on his state web site. The 49-page resource is available on the state Department of Justice web site here. 

I'll bet anything that this handbook weighs a lot too...

State Sen. Bob Cowles; "I don't take any pleasure in the pain...but..." what the hell, huh?

Is it just name calling referring to Walker's Republicans as sociopaths? According to the Post Crescent:

State Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Allouez: 

"There is pain out there, and I don't take any pleasure in the pain," Cowles said. "But it had to be done for the greatest good for the greatest number…”

Let’s spread the pain, and end Cowles career by choosing Nancy Nusbaum, Cowles' Democratic challenger in the recall election Aug. 9th.

The Dumbest Guy in the room, Johnson, wants to go back 100 years.

Politifact must have had some time on their hands when they decided to grade this statement by Ron Johnson, Ayn Rand character actor pretending to be a Senator.

Johnson, in an appearance on CNBC’s "Squawk Box," argued "The federal government is spending 25 percent of our entire economy versus 100 years ago, we spent only 2 percent. The problem is the size, the scope, all the regulations and the cost of government."

It doesn’t take a genius to see we're a larger country now, with a more complex economic system, global competition, and larger population.

But Johnson is really going after our safety net programs, the real reason we're spending 25 percent of our economy. Without them, a more desperate public will work for near nothing, so long as they can sustain life and can hold a neighborhood car wash to help pay some bills.

Politifact said it best:

The largest part of the growth since the 1950s, the Office of Management and Budget reports, came from a category that includes Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, deposit insurance, and means-tested entitlements such as Medicaid, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, the refundable portions of the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits.

"A big part of the difference is that as the U.S. got richer, a lot more services were demanded, and a whole layer of protections unknown in 1910 got assumed by the government," said Gary Burtless, a Brookings Institution economist.