70% of Arcadia voters send Right Wing Frac Sand Mayor Kimmel packing, take community back.

It was almost impossible to know from media stories what really happened after local Arcadia Wisconsin voters successfully recalled their 10 year sitting mayor. I had to read through a half dozen stories to piece together the evidence. Suffice it to say, Mayor John Kimmel was a dictatorial right wing loon.

The recall process was filed by Duane Matelski, who claims Kimmel limits input from the public and experts who do not support his positions.

In response, Kimmel has said the recall effort is a fraud, and those behind it have a personal vendetta against him.

Yup, another Republican "victim," unable to accept responsibility for his own actions.  

His ouster may not indicate a trend, but in your typical rural frac sand mining community, residents may have had enough of the corporate free-for-all to plunder their local environment, risk their health, and reduce property values.

When you look at Mayor Kimmel’s lopsided loss, it’s clear this guy wasn't just in his own clueless world, but had it coming.

Longtime Arcadia Mayor John Kimmel was ousted Tuesday in a special election triggered by frac sand complaints, but driven by ongoing discontent in the city over Kimmel's tenure. Rob Reichwein, a Trempealeau County supervisor, won with almost 70 percent of the votes. 

The petitioners against Kimmel … expressed concern that Kimmel didn’t allow enough input at public meetings, didn’t work closely with residents about various concerns regarding frac sand and other issues, and wasn’t a responsible steward of the city’s resources.

Right wing Authoritarian Record: In our now deep red state, Kimmel assumed he could do anything. Residents were unimpressed.

Back in September 2011, Kimmel was suspected, but cleared of misusing Arcadia funds for a trip to D.C. to attend a rally for the American Public Power Association, a supposed non-partisan group opposed to “the proposed emissions guidelines for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants.” Add to that the following...

In 2006 Kimmel had proposed four ordinances: 

1. alerting federal agents to complaints of undocumented workers; 

2. making English the official language of Arcadia; 

3. forbidding any other nation's flag from display without an American flag alongside; 

4. and ensuring that all signs and city documents be printed only in English.

 No surprise, he backed away from his wacky right wing proposals after a public backlash...again.  

Here's WEAU's coverage:

Need another reason to have a statewide Democratic campaign to replace our "wrong direction" Republicans? 

Recall Elections for Bad Politicians, Good Politicians making tough decisions, or Criminal Politicians?

While there's a new plan for election laws being written, Republicans here are still moving toward a constitutional amendment that would change the rules regarding recall elections.

My theory goes like this: Once Republicans take power, they feel the need to pull up the ladder that got them there and protect their one party castle. Until then though, well, that’s a different story.

In Wisconsin, Republicans have super majorities and now gerrymanders safe districts, no worries. So they've decided to constitutionally change the recall laws so only criminal behavior, not bad lawmaking, can result in throwing the rogues out of office.

But in Colorado, it’s just the other way around. Conservative gun nuts have organized recalls against Democrats on the false notion that gun regulation is unconstitutional. Talk about frivolous.

WPR: John Morse isn't bogged down in personal scandal. The Democratic president of the Colorado Senate isn't accused of ethical improprieties or anything else that might directly violate his oath of office. But by pushing a sweeping gun-control measure he's alienated a swath of voters who are determined to toss him out of office before his term ends.

On Monday, groups opposing restrictions on guns turned in twice as many signatures as they needed to trigger a recall election against Morse. A recall of another state senator appears likely.

It's the latest example of an elected official facing recall not because of criminal misconduct, but simply because their opponents disagree with their policy choices.

Is the following a Democrat talking about Scott Walker, or a Republican talking about a Democrat who passed gun regulation. Eerily similar, don’t you think?

"Waiting for the next election would still give them another year to trample freedom with anti-constitutional bills pushed by an extremist minority," says Anthony Garcia, spokesman for the lead group seeking Morse's ouster. "We appealed to people's common sense and found that many wanted action now, both to simply remove him and to send a message to the Legislature here."

Hypocritical much? Colorado Republicans Embrace One Issue Recall Election of a whole bunch of Democrats.

Republicans are big fat liars.

While Wisconsin Republicans are securing their  jobs by "reforming" recall elections here, which would give them carte blanche to do what they want as long as they don't break the law, Colorado Republicans are going recall crazy.

For the same reasons Wisconsin Republicans are changing the recall laws here, Colorado Republicans are justifying their right to recall a whole bunch of targeted Democrats who had the courage and leadership to make the tough vote. The one issue, which is not what GOPer's say recalls should be used for...is gun control. But in this case, well why not?

Get a load of this recall lunacy, and then tell State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald and Rep. Robin Vos to make their case again:

Denver Post: The Colorado Secretary of State today signed off on recall petitions for two more lawmakers over their gun votes, for Democratic Sens. Angela Giron of Pueblo and Evie Hudak of Westminster. The secretary of state earlier approved petitions for the recalls of Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs, and Rep. Mike McLachlan of Durango. 

...with more recall efforts are on the way, activists say. A website and Facebook page promote the recall of state Rep. Rhonda Fields, who sponsored two of the recent gun bills.

Yahoo, they're recall crazy in Colorado.

What I'll never understand is this "fear" they have over a possible gun registry. What a dumb reason not to do anything at all.

Opponents fear that background checks will lead to a "national gun registry," which they say would mean excessive government monitoring of gun owners.

Republicans have turned the word "conservative" into a profanity. They're lawless, irresponsible and change what they believe with the wind.

Organizer Dave Saleh said he was not surprised by McLachlan's vote but that he was surprised Hickenlooper signed the bills. "It shows what he really is, which is a liberal progressive," Saleh said. "We're going to damn sure deal with these politicians here.”

Sounds like Saleh is conservative tea party cry baby who still doesn't like the election results. “The people voted once already, let em govern,” is what I was told here by our own disciplinary Republican majority.

And where's Verify the Recall when you need them. I'll bet there's a whole bunch of fake signatures. 

The Best Argument for Wisconsin's Constitutional Recall Law.

With the Republican Authority firmly in place, and their new gerrymandered districts, recall reform that basically allows elected officials to do anything they want short of breaking the law is on the fast track. We will have to live with the elections, elections Republicans will win despite more Democratic voters turning out.

So I thought it was interesting when I discovered this story out of Albany, NY:

ALBANY — Assembly Republicans backed a plan Wednesday that would let New York voters throw their representatives out of office before their term expires. The bill would amend the state Constitution to permit “recall elections” similar to those allowed in states such as California and Wisconsin, where voters can petition for a vote to remove an elected official at nearly any time.

In the meantime, after reading a number of newspaper editorials from around the state that missed the point of the recall law completely, I thought this piece smoked their whiny efforts to justify locking in a permanent Republican majority (shortened a bit):

Urban Milwaukee: Why Republicans Are Wrong About Recalls, by Bruce Murphy: The bill to restrict recalls is a naked attempt by political officials to protect their jobs.

It was back in 1996 that Racine Republican George Petak became the first state senator in Wisconsin history to be recalled from office. Today, some call him a hero for casting the decisive vote in favor of the legislation to build Miller Park. The deal’s dirtiness was exposed when then Gov. Tommy Thompson campaigned for the legislation and famously said, “All the taxes come from Waukesha and Milwaukee. Stick it to em.” Deepening the outrage, Petak had promised to vote against the tax and then changed his vote. Petak would still be in office today if a new measure proposed by Republican legislators is passed: it would greatly restrict recalls, allowing them only if an elected official is charged with a criminal or civil ethics charge.

This law would have also prevented the recall effort against Milwaukee County Executive F. Thomas Ament, who engineered passage of infamous pension plan, and the seven county supervisors who were thrown out of office.

Of course, the real goal here is to prevent something like the recent recall action against Gov. Scott Walker. But the effort was unsuccessful. And was the attempt so unjustified? Walker ran for governor saying he would not touch the benefits of teachers and local government workers and would cut benefits only for state employees. And he never hinted at something as revolutionary as eliminating all public unions. Some one million people objected to Walker’s law; should such a democratic uprising be prevented?

Yes, says state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, who has now re-introduced a proposal to amend the state constitution, so it must be passed by two successive sessions of the legislature and by voters in a statewide election before it becomes law.

Harsdorf was among the Republican legislators targeted for recall in 2011 (she survived). “It is a very dangerous road to go down to allow recalls when there’s a disagreement on an issue,”she declared. “You don’t want to discourage elected officials from making those tough decisions.”

Actually, declared an editorial in the Beloit Daily News:  “it’s a more dangerous road to go down to allow the political class — stung recently by recalls — to define what is or is not acceptable — — to them — in the exercise of citizens’ constitutional rights.”

In all three cases I mentioned, concentrated political power was at work: a stadium bailout that frustrated voter’s wishes, a cabal of self-dealing county insiders, and a never-discussed bill that a Republican governor, senate and assembly sought to quickly pass while refusing to negotiate with Democrats. Some may disagree with the recall of Petak or the attempt against Walker. But in all cases there were vital issues at stake where a wave of citizens had erupted with objections. Why curtail this exercise of their constitutional rights?

When I noted some of this history in a past column, I was met with some strange objections by conservatives Christian Schneider and James Wigderson.

Schneider made the bizarre claim that since some citizens felt Ament had committed misconduct in office, that would have been enough to allow a recall. In fact, there was a legal investigation launched and no proof could be found that Ament did anything illegal. Under Harsdorf’s proposal, as the bill’s language makes clear, no recall is allowed unless a criminal or civil complaint has been filed against the official. 

As for Wigderson, he argued that the county pension scandal represented “extraordinary circumstances under which most of us would support having recall elections.” If so, I would assume he will oppose the Harsdorf bill. If not, his argument makes no sense.

The reality is the recall against county officials was led by conservatives, as were many local recalls assisted by the Citizens for Responsible Government. I don’t agree with every recall ever launched in this state. Nor do many members of both parties. But that’s not a reason to all but ban them from Wisconsin.

Outrage: Media Trackers says State Sup. Tony Evers has political opinion, wanted Walker recalled.

If you thought it was odd for Rep. Don Pridemore to announce his run for state superintendent so he could bring conservative values to education, while not receiving any criticism for politicizing a nonpartisan office, check out the picture of an overdose of conservative hypocrisy below. but first, check out Pridemore's comment in the video from WKOW.



The right wingnuts at Media Trackers went straight to the online recall blacklist to trash State Superintendent Tony Evers for his opposition to Scott Walker. I mean what the heck, can you imagine the top supporter of public schools getting behind all those lousy state teachers, when he could have simply declared his allegiance to the Walker Authority?

Breaking story? Only to these wackos.

Recount the Recall says Wisconsin Wave!

Finally, someone has taken the next step in insuring actual election integrity. Wisconsin Wave is attempting to hand count ballots, comparing that number with the voting machine tally. I'm posting a screen capture of just a part of their web page, where they justifying the recount effort. They need money to stop some districts from destroying the ballots. Check it out:

GAB Investigating Recall Groups from Out-of-State for Fraud.

What can you say about Republicans that hasn't already been said a thousand times; they can't be trusted. While the governor insisted all his troubles stemmed from "out-of-stater's," his own party brought out-of-stater's in to phony up a few Democratic recall drives. 

Now those same outsiders are being investigated for recall petition fraud. 

WTAQ: The Government Accountability Board is investigating recall petition signature fraud involving last year’s recall Senator Dave Hansen committee.

Chad Fradette came forward with the information to WTAQ. He was originally involved in the Recall Dave Hansen group organized by David VanderLeest, who would later run against Hansen in the recall election.

“David VanderLeest was hording all the signatures, wouldn’t let anyone look at them or to verify them if they were real or not or keep count of what we had and it got really strange, so we broke off.” Fradette says questions also arose about VanderLeest’s involvement.

Chad Fradette said in a phone conversation the GAB is investigating signature collectors that came from out of state, fraudulent signatures, forgeries, and try to ascertain who paid for them. Fradette said he opposed employing the out of state groups, especially after one was arrested for stealing a backpack from Lambeau Field while collecting signatures.

VanderLeest lost to Hansen and is now currently running for state assembly district 90.

But VanderLeest did get people to vote for him, even though bloggers revealed:

In a report, dated 10/26/06, VanderLeest was alleged to have told his wife he would kill her if she testified against him in a previous domestic abuse case that was still pending. And this is the man who thinks he’s eminently more qualified and capable of serving the public.

Politiscoop: The former wife of David VanderLeest. spoke of VanderLeest’s inability to handle his own finances, his inability to pay his taxes or to provide adequately for her son by buying him basics like shoes or even by providing a stove in his apartment so he is able to cook his son dinner.

Racine Recall Loss in Racine end of World. Why didn't Election Fraud work There Too?

What, a Republican senator lost his recall election? That's not supposed to happen, not with the election fraud we have in place with no oversight or spot checks of machines statewide.

But that one loss has now become a media firestorm, compliments of the Republican tea party machine. They know how to control the media dialog. Hot on the story, Fox6:

MacIver Institute: At issue are election registration forms and partisan political literature found in a dumpster multiple voter registration forms were discovered, including mostly-blank forms that had been pre-certified by an election official

Fox6: Racine County Sheriff’s officials confirmed Thursday, June 14th they are investigating a bag reportedly containing various election materials found outside Racine’s Cesar Chavez Community Center, which served as a polling place during recall voting.

Racine County Sheriff’s Captain Unette Lemke told FOX6 News a citizen brought the bag to the Sheriff’s Office, and asked that it be examined. The Sheriff’s Office was reportedly contacted by the Racine County District Attorney’s Office, notifying them the bag would be coming to their office. Sheriff’s officials say the citizen did not make any allegations, but claimed they found the bag outside the polling place. Captain Lemke did not confirm this Thursday.

A staff member from Racine’s Cesar Chavez Community Center said he received a call from Racine’s County Clerk, asking whether the center had received any complaints of voter irregularities, but he said the center had not. The Racine County Clerk told FOX6 News Thursday she has received no reports of voter irregularities.

But here we are anyway, covering a story that if true, should also call into question every other race where Republicans won their recalls. Right? From Eye on Wisconsin:

Rep. Robin "Beer Head" Vos can't wait to take power

Rep. Robin Vos is about to become the speaker of the assembly, and he's hot on a big agenda, and big changes; a flat tax that makes the poor and middle class "pay their fair share." Of course the rich don't pay 12.2 percent into Social Security over $110,000, a break the poor and middle class don't get on their entire paycheck, but what the heck.

And of course Vos has been one of the leading Republican whiners demanding a change to our constitutional recall law. Conservatives liked the way our constitutions, state and federal, were written.

Doh, the Democrats now want to change the recall law too, which proves...the Republicans were right all along that the recalls were a waste of time and too costly.

And that my friends is the real end of our democratic republic.



Note: Vos had a beer poured over his head by a protester.

A Desperate Walker Promised Jobs after Recall, gets 38 Business Groups to Advertise to save his ass.

Remember this:

During the recall campaign, Walker maintained the specter of the recalls was a paralyzing factor for many small businesses.

That empty and preposterous lie is about to meet reality, unless:

WKOW: An advertisement to publicize Wisconsin as a place to do business is scheduled to appear in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and other publications Monday.

But guess what, this corporate panic attack to save Walker’s skin, is getting ridiculously heavy spin to convince us it was planned “for some time.” Yeah, right. Planned around the same time he promised a jobs rush from impatient businesses chomping at the bit to hire.

They think we’re suckers! Businesses hire employees because of product demand, not on a politician’s electoral success. My god, if he really thinks that…

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation chief executive officer Paul Jadin told 27 News the ad buy has been planned for some time. 

Here's where's Walker's fat gets pulled out of the fire:

Officials said the advertisement campaign's $109,000 cost is being funded by 38 different business groups, including Madison-based Thrive. 

Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said the end of gubernatorial and senate recalls give existing Wisconsin businesses certainty as they plan business strategy. "They know for the next two and a half years, you're not going to have anti-business extremists in charge of the regulatory agencies. I also believe you're going to have expansions almost immediately."

Do Republicans Hate Wasting Taxpayer Dollars on Recalls, and Overturning the will of the People? Nah!!

Republicans hate recalls, the cost of recalls and vow to change the rules for recalls. That’s why they’re determined to continue to spend more taxpayer money on the righteous fight. This must be Gods will.

91.3 KUWS: Group backs off on Jauch recall; blames burnout. There probably won’t be a recall of Democratic State Senator Bob Jauch. A Milwaukee-based group had promised to resume recall efforts of the northern Wisconsin senator as soon as this week’s recall ended, but they’re re-thinking it. Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) spokesman Orville Seymour says they’re still discussing recalling Jauch…but they’re holding off for now. “There is recall burn-out.” Seymour should know. He’s taken part in 30 recall efforts in the past decade. But he says this week’s recall sent a clear message.

Wow! 30 recalls?? But Republicans "hate wasting taxpayer money on recalls," especially when they try to overturn the will of the people…like in Racine County where voters wanted change:

Journal Times:The election results from Tuesday’s recall have not yet been certified, but already there is some chatter about recalling John Lehman next year. The very next day after those results came in, John Bertermann, 70, placed a “Recall Lehman” sign in his front yard at 1656 Michigan Blvd. on Wednesday morning. “I don’t think that there should have been a recall election in the first place,” Bertermann said Wanggaard has done nothing wrong, and former state Sen. John Lehman did not deserve to apparently defeat him.

Bill Folk, the chairman for the Racine County GOP, said if it does happen, Lehman would be recalled in a new, more Republican-leaning district.

According to Rep. Robin Vos, the Democratic Party’s values just don’t fit into Wisconsin’s future anymore. And besides, who knows when Sen. John Lehman will “flee the state” again (Democrats, they do that ya know):

State Rep. Robin Vos said … there are a lot of conservatives in western Racine County who are angry they will soon have a senator representing them who doesn’t represent their values. “I don’t believe in recalling someone just because he is a Democrat.” But at the same time Vos didn’t say he was entirely opposed to a possible recall, such as if Lehman doesn’t represent the wishes of the district or flees the state. 

Will somebody pour a beer over this guys head again please. Actually, a recall would put these jackals on our own progressive data base of newly blacklist conservative job seekers. Oops, probably shouldn't have tipped our hand.

Stay at home Father of two and Recall Voter: "This was it...the end of the USA as we know it just happened."

My conservative friend in Milwaukee told me about the following video making the rounds, giving Walker thugs a good laugh today after their big money victory.

Big laugh huh? Unfortunately, I'll have the last laugh in what will be a dystopian future. I couldn't have said it any better than Mike, a very disappointed recall voter.

CNN: Before cutting to the voter, Mike, John King noted that he “underscored” his disappointment. “We’re not just disappointed,” the voter said, “this is the end of democracy.”

Noting they got outspent $34 million to $4 million, he said, “This was the biggest election in America.” Becoming more emotional, he went on to say, “Democracy died tonight.” Acknowledging he’s “very emotional,” he broke into tears, saying, “This was it. If we didn’t win tonight, the end of the USA as we know it just happened.”

Before King chimed back in, the voter got his message in once more: “Democracy’s dead.”

Here's Mike (Vinny) with Sly in the Morning: (audio)

Our regular caller and all-around badass protester Vinny was interviewed by CNN on election night, and he pointed out to the world that democracy now bears a price tag, and Glenn Beck writes it off as somebody who's a coward and out-of-touch with reality. 

Brutal Ad from Walker Campaign offers insight into Scotty's desperation.

Scott Walker didn't have much to say when confronted with his own desperate ad falsely accusing Tom Barrett of misreporting crime statistics.



Barrett nailed him with the nights big line:



The ad itself was right out of left field, which could only have been inspired by his twisted flame thrower of a campaign spokesperson, Hooter's server Ciara Matthews. Here's a WISC Reality Check with the shocking truth:



What I found just as odd was this comment from Walker, that honestly, could have easily been directed at his own John Doe criminal operation. They call it projection.

How do you stop the destructive cycle of recall elections? Kick out the dictators.

I find it almost humorous that somehow, after the recall election, everything will be just fine again.

Are they crazy? Win or lose, Walker’s Wisconsin is going to be bitterly divided for a long time, an amazing historical legacy when you think about it.

So imagine my surprise when I came across this odd editorial from someone I normally consider reliably level headed, Todd Berry, of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. Yikes!

Waukesha Patch: A prominent political scientist recently observed that "Wisconsin is a state in turmoil." It’s easy to see why. By summer, Wisconsin will have attempted to recall 15 state officials in a year. The … toxic rhetoric are all unprecedented in state and American history.

In this polarized environment, Wisconsin cannot have a civil discussion about how to restore stability to state government. But, eventually, we will have to consider how to end the destructive cycle of recall elections.

Todd, the recalls don’t happen unless an overwhelming number of people sign onto one. Many have failed. 

Due to a divided legislature or an opposing governor, we never had an overwhelmingly authoritarian super majority before.

Sure, Walker and his legislative thugs could listen, consider and include the other side on lawmaking, but get real. It's easier to treat "the other side" like union henchmen, sore losers and out-of-staters.

   

Don't cha think that sounds a little condescending? 

Race Baiting Van Wanggaard is the poster child of Republican hypocrites

Sen. Van Wanggaard's recall race was a close one...until now. Check out the mailer to the right sent out about his opponent John Lehman. Nothing like a little race baiting:

Journal Times; The Racine branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People says a Republican State Leadership Committee mailer attacking John Lehman is using race to play on people’s fear of crime. The two-sided ad, which a committee spokesman said was sent to 10,000 homes in the district, features two depictions of criminals. One side of the ad says “You’re not safe. Thanks to John Lehman,” and shows a shadowy photo of a what appears to be a white man attacking a light complected woman. The reverse side calls Lehman out for supporting legislation that allegedly “allowed dangerous criminals out of prison before their sentences were complete,” and bears an image of a hooded figure whose face cannot be seen.

It's not Wanggaard's campaign ad, but he agrees with it;

While Van Wanggaard's campaign didn't make the brochure, he agrees with the message. "You read the actual text, it's accurate.  John did support early release of criminal felons," said Van Wanggaard.

Forget about all the states that have saved money on the early release program of non-dangerous lawbreakers. It's been a nationwide successful story that has resulted in more money for states. But that's why Republicans like Wanggaard are bad a their jobs. Here's TMJ4 coverage:



That's not all folks. Check out the jaw dropping information below, about recalled Republican Senator Van Wanggaard. You may not know a lot about him. The shear breadth of Wanggaard’s hypocrisy, not to mention the voters that are willing to look the other way, makes him the quintessential Republican. I had to pass this shortened version along. There’s more here from the alluring Root River Siren:

Root River Siren: Everyone in Racine knows about Van Wanggaard's pension. Oh yeah, they used to kill John Lehman for having a teacher's retirement and then getting paid as a Senator ... Then along came Van who didn't exactly retire as a cop - he got a disability - and then retired. Everyone shut up about the double dipping. Not a fucking peep.

Of course, Lehman supported public employees during his tenure as a State Representative and then as a Senator. Opponents said (and still do) he's a pet of the "union bosses."

Lehman has been criticized for cashing roughly $11,000 dollars from union organizations during the recall so far - an ironic criticism considering Wanggaard has cashed in a similar amount from conservative union types like the Milwaukee Police Association, steamfitters and Milwaukee Professional Firefighters.

However when the Racine Police Association declined to endorse Wanggaard in the recall and instead endorsed Lehman - a Democrat (a first in their history) that Wanggaard's duplicity as a former union representative turned union buster showed how deeply his actions hit home. It isn't just the locals who picked up on the hypocrisy of a guy who brings home about $90k each year of taxpayer dollars who unapologetically dismantled collective bargaining rights for public workers - rights that provided him the pension cash he gets every two weeks.

Longtime Wisconsin columnist, Bruce Murphy wrote about Wanggaard for his very first article this week in his "Murphy's Law" column in Urban Milwaukee. It's worth the read. The only shame is Murphy didn't touch on the $50,000 dollar settlement Wanggaard got from Safeco Insurance Company after his on-duty car accident...another harsh irony given the tort reform laws Wanggaard supported and voted for - making it much more difficult for injured citizens to sue in court.

Taking Back the Real History of the Recall.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin put together a nice piece that dispels many of the right wing distortions about the recall and when it should be used.  It's common sense stuff, which is why conservatives have a built in mental block.  Read the whole thing here.

The Real History of the Recall in Wisconsin

There is a coordinated right-wing effort to rewrite Wisconsin history to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the recall of Governor Walker. The stakes of this revisionist history could not be higher. The transparent objective is to persuade a small but decisive group of voters that they should not recall Governor Walker even if they disapprove of his conduct in office. One of the right’s propaganda mills is disseminating the myth that the original framers of Wisconsin’s recall amendment, the progressive movement led by “Fighting Bob” La Follette, would have opposed its use against Scott Walker. This is a stunning assertion.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin asked one of the leading historians of the Progressive Era in Wisconsin, Professor John Buenker, to analyze the right-wing history of the recall. Buenker finds that the Wisconsin progressives who framed the recall amendment were seeking to create a democratic check against corporate corruption and control of Wisconsin government, and the politicians who do the bidding of wealthy special interests. The recall is being used in 2012 as it was intended by the La Follette era progressives. The progressives of his era who put the recall in the Wisconsin Constitution would have thrilled to see people over 80 years later holding a Governor accountable for misleading the public during his campaign at the behest of billionaires and corporate interests, and once elected perpetrating a sneak attack on rights and the livelihoods of working people.

Clueless Kleefisch Condescends!!

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch "discovers" for us, how the state constitution requires the governor and Lt. governor to run separately. She's a deep thinker, and explains it to us like we're all idiots. Upfront with Mike Gousha:



And thank god we have Kleefisch to explain the "hard to understand" total non-farm jobs numbers from the general job losses...it's all so confusing. I better turn it over to Rebecca:

There was a reason Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch ran as the invisible candidate....a win for challenger Mahlon Mitchell

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch had no response when confronted with Gov. Scott Walker's "divide and conquer" comment. Nothing. All she had were off topic comments and an unconvincing denial. We're supposed to assume nothing really happened in the state that resulted in the Capitol protests or the massive recall response for her and Walker . Upfront with Mike Gousha:

Kleefisch: "I don't think a divide and conquer strategy is anywhere close to what we have done in Wisconsin, what has happened in Wisconsin ... I don't think that's the strategy that was pursued..." 

Challenger and firefighter Mahlon Mitchell would not move off the divide and conquer topic. He even brought up Walker's "drop the bomb" reference. And I was almost dizzy watching Kleefisch rock her body back and forth while batting her eyes like a young Beaver Cleaver. Her response to Walker's outrageous past statements...

Kleefisch: "I don't think rhetoric at this point is helpful at all..." 

"Becky" got here jobs numbers wrong, and Gousha corrected her, which did not stop her from repeating the incorrect number again. Wow. I've superimposed the actual numbers:



Here Mahlon Mitchell defends high speed rail, and reminded Kleefisch that bashing employment numbers in Milwaukee is not helping create jobs there. He could have easily brought up the latest Walker ad portraying Milwaukee as a drag on the state, and brought up the fact that it subtly slipped in a negative racial element as well.

Mitchell: "We've got to remember Milwaukee is in the state of Wisconsin."

Kleefisch: "...we've got to stop rooting against Wisconsin, against Milwaukee...and stop criticizing our great state."

Where has Kleefisch been for the last 15 years, when Republicans bashed Wisconsin the state 24/7, as a bad place for business.



The truth is a whole lot less hyperbolic...

Politifact: Kleefisch campaign manager Rachel Pecor provided a letter that was dated March 10, 2011 and signed by Mitchell and six other public employee union leaders. The letter was sent to Tom Ellis, president of what was then the Milwaukee-based M&I Bank. It demanded that M&I Bank publicly oppose Walker’s reform law … If M&I didn’t comply the letter signers would "publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company." … signers of the M&I letter made the same demand a day later in a letter to the Kwik Trip convenience store chain. So, it’s clear that Mitchell signed two boycott letters. Pecor acknowledged there wasn’t proof that Mitchell had signed any other letters urging boycotts beyond M&I and Kwik Trip. But she argued that the larger boycotts were "encouraged" by the Mitchell letters. 

Of course they were.

Husband and Wife tussle over recall. Husband now in Hospital.

Ya think Scott Walker hasn't really divided the people of this state? Check this out:

jsonline: A Chippewa Falls man who repeatedly tried to block his estranged wife from driving to the polls Tuesday was hospitalized with head, neck and back injuries when she struck him with her sport utility vehicle.

Jeffrey Radle, a Gov. Scott Walker supporter, was on foot. Amanda Radle, a recall proponent, was in a Dodge Durango. The pair had been arguing early Tuesday afternoon over who she was going to vote for in the gubernatorial recall election primary, said Chippewa Falls Police Chief Wendy L. Stelter.

"She was planning on voting for a certain candidate, and it wasn't the candidate he wanted her to vote for." When Amanda attempted to pull out, Jeffrey stood in front of her ... She nudged him with the vehicle several times. Each time he would "retreat and re-establish his ground," the release said. "At one point he climbed onto the hood." When she finally attempted to drive around him, Jeffrey Radle jumped in front of the vehicle and was hit. Amanda left the scene and went to the police department to report the incident.

"These crazy liberal nuts are always pulling this crap," said Radle's brother, Mike Radle, describing himself and his brother as firm supporters of Walker, the subject of the recall.

Police have been called to the residence several times in the past, and the couple was believed to be separated, Stelter said.

Mike Radle said it was "one of the women candidates" - either former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk or state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma.

"To think that people would become that distraught over an election is very concerning," the chief said.

Here are a few of the comments following the article:

-Looks to me like he wanted a ride to the polling place and she was denying him that ride. Liberals will do anything to stifle the rights of others.

-These crazy liberal nuts are always pulling this crap" Seriously? Just another Republican trying to suppress voting rights.

-Am I missing something here? The right wing nut job stands in front of her car and holds her captive, preventing her from excercizing her RIGHT to vote, and his brother calls her a crazy liberal? I predicted yesterday that he was the Rep, and she was the Dem, and I was right.

-Wow, check out CCAP on these two brothers. Maybe these criminals are Walker's "tools". Maybe if he wins the recall he will reward them for their support by hiring them.

Walker wrong on reasons for recalls, denies intent of state Constitution.

The best reporter in the state, Fox 6's Mike Lowe, explains the legality and history of Wisconsin's recall law. It appears we're doing just what Republican Governor Bob LaFollette wanted us to do:

Is it what the original advocates of the recall intended? As they say, the past is prologue, so as the recall looms, FOX6′s Mike Lowe takes a look back at history for the story of the recall in Wisconsin. On October 31st, 1926, Wisconsin changed its constitution to include “recall” after a fight led by progressive Republican Governor Bob La Follette. “The fight was to prevent elected officials who got elected on one platform from breaking with their platform and doing something else,” UW-Milwaukee Professor of Governmental Affairs Mordecai Lee said.

A century later, voters are still asking if what happened that Halloween is a trick-or-treat for Wisconsin democracy. “The purpose of recalls in Wisconsin and nationwide was to have a short leash for politicians,” Lee said.