Russia "California Secessionist Dreaming!"

Look, I know this is crazy, but....I've had this odd feeling for awhile now that Republicans were either knowingly or unintentionally moving toward a complete breakup of the United States. Weird conspiratorial stuff.

But when Gov. Scott Walker ran for president, his big idea was to do away with many of our federal agencies and shift them to the states. That would create a nation of little republics, similar to the Soviet Union. Of course, they eventually broke up into individual countries...so could that happen here? If you're a Republican, sure, who cares, and anyway this is something very very long term...and crazy.

But still, we've already seen many GOP state's tinker with the idea of seceding. What I didn't see coming was this Politico story tweet by GOP pollster and propagandist Frank Luntz :

More outrageous still? This is all coming out of Trump's favorite best friend, Russia:

The Dialogue of Nations Conference, which attracted separatist-minded contingents from Ireland, Spain and Italy, was hosted by a man named Alexander Ionov, whose group had used money from the Kremlin to pay the travel expenses of Russian Louis Marinelli’s pals from Red Square: Nate Smith. Smith is one of the leaders of Texas Nationalist Movement that’s pushing to—you guessed it—break away from the United States.

Jed Wheeler, the general secretary of the California National Party. “YesCalifornia is a movement whose optics are all designed for a Russian audience to reinforce [Vladimir] Putin, by talking about…how terrible America is, and reinforcing [the idea that] Putin is this great guy who is admired all over the world.” 

It would be easy to dismiss all this as nonsense driven by publicity-hungry amateurs, but people who know the Russian political playbook say winking at these fringe movements—and even giving them a boost—is a part of a very real strategy. Not only is this a way of puffing Russia’s domestic claims at turmoil in the U.S., but it fits firmly within the Kremlin’s modus operandi of cultivating fringe groups in the West—including, most especially, those who would fracture the United States in a reprise of the Soviet Union’s demise, over a quarter-century later.

That's not all:

Trump booster and Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel told the New York Times last week he is a proponent of secession. (“I think it would be good for California, good for the rest of the country,” Thiel said. “It would help Mr. Trump’s re-election campaign.”) And thanks to the efforts of both Marinelli and Ionov, California now has its first, if unofficial, “embassy” abroad—located in, of all places, Moscow.

Backed by photos of Putin, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro and Muammar Qadhafi, Marinelli and Ionov officially unveiled the “embassy” in mid-December, pitching it as “bridge between California and Russia” and a way to “gain Russian support for California independence.”

Thanks to Trump, Russia's Putin is riding high. WaPo:

Putin heads into 2017 on a strong note, having brokered a cease-fire in Syria that sidelined the United States and having won the praise of President-elect ­Donald Trump by declining to retaliate in response to the Obama administration’s decision to punish Moscow over its alleged interference in the U.S. election.

“We are working, and working successfully, and we are achieving much,” Putin said in the nationally broadcast address. “I would like to thank you for the victories and achievements, for your understanding and trust, and for your true, sincere care for Russia.”

A Few GOP Convention Side Issues Walker wants us to Ignore....

Real issues like jobs and health care take a back seat to these important votes at last weekends GOP convention in Milwaukee. jsonline:

Without debate, the convention passed a resolution opposing the Common Core.

Any alternative plans? Nope.

Oh, and here are a few "side issues" Scott Walker said should get all caught up in:

The convention approved resolutions that included backing "right-to-work" legislation, election reform, gun rights and an expansion of charter school and voucher programs across the state "without limits or strings attached."

Just to recap:

Delegates rejected a measure that demanded Wisconsin pass a bill to declare the Affordable Care Act null and void in the state and forbid state and federal agents from enforcing the act. One delegate said on the floor, "If we pass this, we'll be the laughingstock of America."

Walker said that when Democrats were in charge in Madison, the state's unemployment rate was 9.2%. It's now 5.9%, he said. In December 2010, Doyle's last month in office, the unemployment rate stood at 7.8%, as the state and country were recovering from the Great Recession.

The Journal Sentinel is one of the few papers to note how the Great Recession affected jobs under Gov. Doyle. 

Republican Secessionists Convention #2 - Conservative Justice!

It looks like the Republican Secessionist mob at the convention just selected another “leader” for their ruggedly independent voting contingent; Waukesha DA Brad Schimel.

Get use to the word “projection” this election season, as we get inundated by laughably ridiculous characterizations that don’t come close to describing Democrats or their Party.

Projection: “An immature defense, the projection of one's negative qualities onto others.”

Nothing partisan here...?

Schimel has the balls to pretend he and his fellow conservative DA’s, judges and justices don’t have a strictly partisan agenda? Casting the liberal candidates as "radical" proves just how Schimel will dole out "justice" to his opponents:

Twitter/WSJ/Mary Spacuzza: Brad Schimel wins unanimous support as the Attorney General candidate at the GOP convention. AG candidate Brad Schimel says Democrats running for attorney general will pursue a "radical, activist agenda. 

Because our legal system is a conservative one, right?

Republican Secessionists Convention #1

Wisconsin State Journal reporter Mary Spicuzza is covering the GOP Secessionists Convention, providing the following tweets, from the beginning:

Phone charger hat...

Rep. Brett Hulsey says he is dressed as a Confederate soldier to highlight "Republicans' racist agenda" … his "confederate soldier" hat also serves as a phone charger … calling himself Gen. Bass Ackwards … GOP delegate Pam Stevens says Brett Hulsey's Confederate soldier uniform is racist and offensive.

Matt Walker, son of @GovWalker, says "if we want to be competitive again, we've got to reach out to young voters." @RebeccaforReal to convention goers: "The future is bright if we have Matt Walker on our side."

This is one of my favorite "in the tank for the rich" lines uttered today:

Mary Buestrin, national GOP committeewoman: You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

A slightly higher percentage hike in taxes will destroy the rich? Surreal

. There's even more insanity, projection and BS:

@SpeakerVos on Assembly Republicans at GOP Convention: We will do whatever it takes to make sure voter ID becomes the law in Wisconsin.

Sensenbrenner: Not only should Common Core go in the waste basket, it should go in the paper shredder & be used as confetti (when defeated)

@RepPaulRyan" Americans are wising up to the false promises of liberal progressivism."

US Rep Tom Petri walks on stage to "Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland) by The Who.

U.S. Rep Sean Duffy says 4 lanes were closed by Gov. Christie in New Jersey, complains it more coverage then Benghazi

U.S. Sen Ron Johnson says four Americans died in Benghazi because of Hillary Clinton's "dereliction of duty."  ...  Shawn Johnson ‏@SJohnsonWPR The first boos at the state GOP convention today are for Hillary Clinton. Sen. Ron Johnson talking to the crowd about Benghazi    ...   Sen. Ron Johnson: The Democrats, the liberals, the progressives, they’re relentless in their denial of our freedoms.

Best suggestion yet: Walker asked for prayers before money. Let's hold him to it:

@GovWalker tells GOP convention crowd: “We appreciate the financial contributions… but what I appreciate the most is your prayers"

Sorry GOP, too late...

A last minute conversion...

...and the Senate GOP opposition? Like this won't come up again either. 

jsonline: The letter : "The Republican State Convention is a time to put our best foot forward to show the state and country what conservative ideals can bring if given the chance to be implemented. Unfortunately, a small minority of members wish to prove a meaningless point by voting on a resolution regarding secession."

Rep. Hulsey to Pass out KKK Party “Hats” to GOP Secessionist Convention Goers.

The master of the overstatement and party wacko Rep. Brett Hulsey must think that if the hat fits, wear it:

Hulsey, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate … called the hoods, which are generally regarded as a racist symbol akin to a Nazi swastika, "Republican Party hats."

“Generally regarded?” Well that’s a ridiculous media neutral description. Hulsey listed a few odd coincidences that hinted at his only logical conclusion:

wsj: Asked whether handing out the hoods would be viewed as offensive, Hulsey said, "What I find offensive is Gov. Walker and the Republicans' racist record. They’re the ones considering the resolution to leave the United States" … he takes issue with Republicans discontinuing record-keeping on racial profiling by police agencies, scaling back the income eligibility limits for Medicaid and making changes to voting policies that critics say could suppress minority turnout … A vote on a resolution affirming the state's right to secede from the union, an issue that sparked the American Civil War … he plans to hold a rally outside a Walker speech Friday with participants dressed as Confederate soldiers.

The GOP record is pretty clear isn't it? Repugnant to be sure. The party in denial's official statement?

State GOP executive director Joe Fadness said: "If true, Brett Hulsey's actions amount to nothing more than a reprehensible, vile stunt and everyone should be outraged."

In fact, if you were to look real hard, you might find racism in the GOP leader class, but not in the rank-and-file:

Nullification and Secession the Big Issues for GOP Convention Goers....

Journal Sentinel's Dan Bice got a copy of the actual resolution the state GOP will vote on to secede, accept surprise, the even bigger topic is nullification of federal laws. We really are the northern most neo-confederate state. These teabillies are feeling pretty good about themselves and gerrymandered majority:

Rep. Robin Vos' Tea Party challenger one issue Common Core opponent, likes Secession too.

Despite coming in at half the rate of the public school system scores, Republicans continue to push the expansion of vouchers statewide.

But when it comes to an untested but encouraging concept like Common Core, kill it now before it destroys our children.

That’s what we’re having to deal with from conservative hardliners who just won’t budge from any part of their ideological failings. Their belief system is infallible, like the Bible, which is also part of their platform.

With conspiracies about Europe’s Common Core attack on American education, and claims secession is possible and not unconstitutional, Assembly wise ass Rep. Robin Vos has a primary challenger. Racine Journal Times: 

Bryn Biemeck of Mount Pleasant says she will run as a Republican against Vos, R-Rochester, to “bring new ideas and a fresh outlook to the party.”

The new idea and fresh outlook? Kill Common Core. This secession supporting “state’s rights” teabilly is just another sign Wisconsin is becoming the new most southern state…

Her primary issue is the Common Core education standards and eliminating them in Wisconsin … She said her opposition to Common Core is part of her strong support of states’ rights, also mentioning a secession resolution … as something she supports. The resolution “supports legislation that upholds Wisconsin’s right, under extreme circumstances, to secede,” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and Biemeck believes in “approaching states’ rights (with) that attitude. Ideally, Wisconsin should govern itself and should make its own decisions about its people.” 

Secessionists are traitors!!! And oh yea, it's not Constitutional either, tea party patriots.

"Efforts to secede are an effort to overthrow the constitution of the United States. And can frankly be called a traitorous activity."- Mordecai Lee, Prof. of Governmental Affairs, UW Milwaukee.

That's how the audio below, from WPR's Joy Cardin Show, starts off. Mordecai Lee is about as middle of the road as they get, so that's saying something. I've included a few good listener calls too in this edited piece, one challenging Lee on being called a traitor.



Ed Schultz also talked about Wisconsin Republican efforts to leave the secession door open, with The Progressive's Ruth Conniff:



Here are just a few images I found that I thought wiped away any doubt that only a few right wing outliers are to blame:

GOP downplays talk of Secession, but it can happen here. Like early 1900's "Sedition Map."

For those who believe Republicans when they say all this talk about Wisconsin seceding from the union is mere fantasy, see what happened back in the early 1900's. With the vilification of "liberalism" and talk of a permanent one party state, is Scott Walker ushering in a replay of 1917?

This is a repost: This appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal as a cute sidebar story. For me it was anything but. It could happen again: 

Sedition Map

The night before America entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson told a friend, “... Lead this people into war, and they’ll forget there ever was such a thing as tolerance.”

Within weeks, Wisconsin was being called “The Traitor State.” Our 700,000 immigrant and first-generation German residents had no desire to make war on their brothers and cousins. One journalist visiting in 1917 called us, “really the most backward state I've struck in its sentiment toward the war.” Embarrassed by the charges, the state Council of Defense and the Wisconsin Loyalty Legion joined forces to suppress anti-war opinion through persuasion, intimidation and harassment.

Under their state-sponsored propaganda campaign, anyone with ties to Germany could be attacked for disloyalty. “Conformity would be the only virtue,” Wilson had predicted.

In Ashland, people who spoke against the war were tarred and feathered. When Republican Sen. Robert La Follette voted against America’s entry into the war, he was called “a pusillanimous, degenerate coward.”

Everything German became suspect. In Wausau, the National German American Bank changed its name to The American National Bank. La Crosse banned the teaching of German in its elementary schools. Sauerkraut was renamed “liberty cabbage” and wieners became “hot dogs.”

In less than 18 months, public opinion in Wisconsin swung from largely anti-war to overwhelmingly pro-war. It was a triumph of public relations, achieved long before marketers had viral videos, Facebook posts or hourly tweets in their toolkits.

War on Teachers for Disloyalty. The professor also said "he was robbed:"

Ashland, Wisconsin, Monday April 1, 1918: PROFESSOR OF NORTHLAND TARRED AND FEATHERED TAKEN FROM ROOM BY MOB: Masked Men Take Him Half Mile From The City, Give Him a Coat Of Tar and Feathers and Let I Him Walk Back Home. Professor E. A. Schimler, teacher of languages at Northland college, was taken from his room last night about midnight by nearly a dozen masked men, taken to a lonely spot about a half mile from the city, stripped of his clothing and given a substantial coat of tar and feathers. After treating him to the coat of tar and feathers, the men in the party jumped into waiting automobiles and sped back to the city. Schimler, when left by the mob, found his undergarments and walked back to his boarding house. The police were then called … when he arrived at city hall, he was in such a condition that there was no question in any one's mind but that the mob was very liberal in the use of tar and also had on-hand a lot of feathers.

Or how about the jaw dropping Wisconsin State Council of Defense:

“…the Wisconsin State Council of Defense worked with federal officials to ensure that Wisconsin citizens would support the American cause during World War I. It outlines food drives, Liberty Loan promotion, recruiting activities, the Council's journal  "Forward", and other home-front efforts which, in the words of one historian, tried "to change an antimilitaristic democracy into an organized war machine."

Or the Loyalty Legion...would I kid you?

“The Wisconsin Loyalty Legion was created to support the U.S. effort in World War I. During 1917-1918 it organized media campaigns and public events in order to (in the words of one historian) "stifle dissent and generate conformance to an inflexible and irrational standard of loyalty." 

The Republican Party's Secessionist Convention

Secessionist talk coming from the Republican side of the aisle is nothing new. I'm thinking southern states, most notably Texas.

So what’s up with Wisconsin's Republican Party leaders denying any interest in secession? It’s just a matter of time, and Republican dominance, that adopting such an idea will take hold. Red states secessionist talk is just part of the conversation.

"Be it further resolved that we strongly insist our state representatives work to uphold Wisconsin's 10th Amendment rights, and our right to secede, passing legislation affirming this to the U.S. Federal Government."

Secessionist Impulse: Who’s surprised the GOP’s amped up hatred of government would naturally lead to state’s rights and secession? Not me, but party leaders in Wisconsin “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” deny it’s a serious problem. From an April 4th article by Dan Bice:

jsonline: Dan Feyen, chairman of the Republican Party's 6th Congressional District, sent a memo to all Republican lawmakers making clear that he did not support the resolution … He noted that the proposals were adopted after many people had gone home.

Wow, nothing wrong with adopting proposals after people had gone home? Sneaky? No excuse.

Joe Fadness, executive director of the state GOP, (said) "Each year, hundreds of resolutions are discussed and debated at the local level before being forwarded to the state.

Funny, patriotic Democrats never seem to include secession in any of their talks.

GOP members of the Assembly and Senate were not taking the resolution seriously. "It makes us sound like Texas," said the veteran lawmaker.

But we are trying to be just like Texas in every way, including secession:

Michael Murphy, vice chairman of the Republican Party's 4th Congressional District, added that he personally supports Wisconsin's right to secede from the United States if the state's voters so choose.

Nine Republican lawmakers came under fire in 2012 for another creative reading of the 10th Amendment. The GOP legislators told a tea party-aligned group that they would back a bill to arrest any federal officials who try to implement Obamacare in Wisconsin. "Just because Obama was re-elected does not mean he's above the constitution," state Rep. Chris Kapenga of Delafield told the Journal Sentinel at the time.

Kapenga must have missed the Bush/Cheney push to create the “Unitary Executive,” a super powered Republican president, lord and master over the other two branches of government. (The GOP has made it clear they would defy popular opinion to install their agenda) 

For example; take their “public flogging” of Republicans who don’t agree with the parties Borg like agenda:

Feyen forwarded a second resolution that expressed a vote of "no confidence" in Sen. Luther Olsen of Ripon and Rep. Steve Kestell of Elkhart Lake. The two have come under fire from some conservatives for supporting the Common Core State Standard … The Republican Party's 2nd and 4th congressional districts passed similar no-confidence resolutions for Olsen and Kestell. "It's more of a public flogging, if you will, from our delegation," Murphy told Wisconsin Reporter.

Notice too how the Tenther's write the united States of America, with a small u. 

False Equivalence: Unfortunately, reporter Dan Bice seems to think a “death with dignity” proposal by Democrats is in anyway comparable or outrageous as Borg like adherence to state’s rights, Second Amendment remedies and secession. Don’t think so Dan. 

State GOP Secessionist Convention to Nominate Scott Walker for Governor...or maybe President of the State.

Hey, both sides do it…like voting on seceding from the United States? Don’t just blame Republicans.

That was the hard sell from Scott Walker to the press, who by the way, bought into it hook, line and sinker. It’s just something that gets brought up…

WPR: Walker said it was the kind of resolution that sometimes gets brought up at a state convention. “Both Democrat and Republican activists often have a variety of different issues they debate at caucuses and conventions,” said Walker. “Many of them are mainstream things. Other ones, like this one, are probably a bit off from where a lot of Republican elected officials like myself are at.”

Just "a bit off?" At the state’s annual Republican convention next month, where these same banana Republicans will also nominate Scott Walker, they’ll party line vote to secede. Second Amendment remedies anyone? 

And if you've ever watched Fox News, every day presents a new “extreme circumstance” just begging for secession.

The resolution would say the state Republican Party supports legislation that upholds Wisconsin's right, under extreme circumstances, to secede … it is very much symbolic. This particular symbolic vote will take place at a convention where Republicans will formally nominate Gov. Scott Walker for a second term in office. 

From WKOW's Greg Neumann:

It Can't Happen Here? It did, and under Scott Walker, it could again.

This appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal as a cute sidebar story. For me it was anything but. It could happen again: 

See the complete map here!

The night before America entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson told a friend, “... Lead this people into war, and they’ll forget there ever was such a thing as tolerance.”

Within weeks, Wisconsin was being called “The Traitor State.” Our 700,000 immigrant and first-generation German residents had no desire to make war on their brothers and cousins. One journalist visiting in 1917 called us, “really the most backward state I've struck in its sentiment toward the war.” Embarrassed by the charges, the state Council of Defense and the Wisconsin Loyalty Legion joined forces to suppress anti-war opinion through persuasion, intimidation and harassment.

Under their state-sponsored propaganda campaign, anyone with ties to Germany could be attacked for disloyalty. “Conformity would be the only virtue,” Wilson had predicted.

In Ashland, people who spoke against the war were tarred and feathered. When Republican Sen. Robert La Follette voted against America’s entry into the war, he was called “a pusillanimous, degenerate coward.”

Everything German became suspect. In Wausau, the National German American Bank changed its name to The American National Bank. La Crosse banned the teaching of German in its elementary schools. Sauerkraut was renamed “liberty cabbage” and wieners became “hot dogs.”

In less than 18 months, public opinion in Wisconsin swung from largely anti-war to overwhelmingly pro-war. It was a triumph of public relations, achieved long before marketers had viral videos, Facebook posts or hourly tweets in their toolkits.

War on Teachers for Disloyalty. The professor also said "he was robbed:"

Ashland, Wisconsin, Monday April 1, 1918: PROFESSOR OF NORTHLAND TARRED AND FEATHERED TAKEN FROM ROOM BY MOB: Masked Men Take Him Half Mile From The City, Give Him a Coat Of Tar and Feathers and Let I Him Walk Back Home. Professor E. A. Schimler, teacher of languages at Northland college, was taken from his room last night about midnight by nearly a dozen masked men, taken to a lonely spot about a half mile from the city, stripped of his clothing and given a substantial coat of tar and feathers. After treating him to the coat of tar and feathers, the men in the party jumped into waiting automobiles and sped back to the city. Schimler, when left by the mob, found his undergarments and walked back to his boarding house. The police were then called … when he arrived at city hall, he was in such a condition that there was no question in any one's mind but that the mob was very liberal in the use of tar and also had on-hand a lot of feathers.

Or how about the jaw dropping Wisconsin State Council of Defense:

“…the Wisconsin State Council of Defense worked with federal officials to ensure that Wisconsin citizens would support the American cause during World War I. It outlines food drives, Liberty Loan promotion, recruiting activities, the Council's journal  "Forward", and other home-front efforts which, in the words of one historian, tried "to change an antimilitaristic democracy into an organized war machine."

Or the Loyalty Legion...would I kid you?

“The Wisconsin Loyalty Legion was created to support the U.S. effort in World War I. During 1917-1918 it organized media campaigns and public events in order to (in the words of one historian) "stifle dissent and generate conformance to an inflexible and irrational standard of loyalty." 

It's the Secessionist Republican Temper Tantrum after "Voters Spoke," elected Obama and maintained Senate Majority.

Wisconsinites were warned by the Walker administration that protesting and recalls were efforts by liberals to stop an agenda voted on by a majority of people. The Republican majority was there by the grace of god and the will of the people.

But as pointed out here, the opposition over "Obamacare" and the presidents stimulus didn't stop tea party Republicans from holding protests and demanding they get their country back.

Now after the Democrats increased their hold on the senate and the nation reelected Obama in an electoral landslide, the pouting foot stamping temper tantrum on the right reveals how big a lie "the will of the people."

They want to go as far as seceding from the union...oh, did I say union? From WOAI in San Antonio:

Point well made…

Christian Science Monitor: State petitions to secede from US: Are they just helping liberals? Some on the right are concerned that the petitions to secede, posted on a White House website by angry voters, are setting conservatives up as easy targets for the mockery of liberals. That’s because the whole thing goes beyond the appearance of sore losing and nears the outer rings of planet lunacy. It makes conservatives look unhinged and foolish, in this view, setting them up as easy targets for the mockery of liberals.

Ya think?

Sign the "Self Deport Secession Petition Signers" petition.

If you're okay with signing up at Whitehouse dot gov, you can sign the petition below and send a feel good message to tea party Republican radicals. A weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I'm signer 21,914:

Fox News casts doubt over "Central City Black Ghetto Neighborhoods" Vote Totals, and Secession Movement Back...

Fox News continues to rev up their low information zombie hoard with stories about secession and black people voting in "central city black ghetto neighborhoods."

The first story spins off on the idea that voter rolls need to be purged of dead people and black voters. Wouldn't you be suspicious if inner city precincts didn't record at least one Romney vote? What the heck, this suspicious behavior should prompt a long look at the voter rolls…jaw dropping commentary by Fox News' Michael Barone:

The old democratic practice of voting without employer instructions may have resulted in the reelection of President Obama. The taker generation secured their handouts and big government spending for another four years, prompting a whole bunch of states to start the secession process… but it wasn't because he’s black…:

The Hill: Less than a week after President Obama's reelection, an online petition calling for Texas to secede from the Union has gained enough signatures to prompt a response from the White House. The petition is posted on "We the People," the White House's website for petitions. The Texas secession petition was posted on Nov. 9 and already has more than 27,000 signatures.

The petition does not explicitly cite President Obama's reelection as a reason to secede, but claims the nation continues to suffer because of the "federal government's neglect to reform domestic and foreign spending." The writers argue that leaving the United States would protect Texans "standard of living and re-secure their rights and liberties in accordance with the original ideas and beliefs of our founding fathers which are no longer being reflected by the federal government."