Van Wanggaard...there's something about a lying former police officer, high school liaison, and now State Senator that makes every Badge look bad.

State Sen. Van Wanggaard triggered me with this statement in his press release about Kenosha's protests:

"That’s what Governor Evers did a year ago. And rewriting history won’t change that.

You gotta wonder what else he made up in his 30 years as a police officer, right? 

The thing about Republicans is they haven't really governed, haven't solving any problems, ignored the COVID Pandemic, or spending our tax dollars on...us. US for gods sake!!! So the 2022 election will be based on fabricated outrage over Gov. Evers oversight of a global pandemic nobody was ready for, and his decisive handling of the Kenosha protests. Oh wait that was a "disaster" too? 

Here's the real timeline, and not some "multiverse" fantasy. He's a liar, and a...

1. Wanggaard: 

"Evers was slow to react, too. After the second night of rioting had already started, 125
National Guard members arrived in Kenosha. It was too little, too late. Governor Evers claims that was the best he could do in 24 hours, but we know that’s not true." 

Oh look, it had nothing to do with Gov. Evers:

Monday, Aug. 24: Around 3 a.m. Monday morning, Sheriff David Beth put in a formal request for support from the Wisconsin National Guard. Beth said he would have put in the request sooner but got his “wires crossed” with other city officials on who would be submitting it. Still, Adjutant Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp said they were preparing to head to Kenosha even before the official request came in, 

Tuesday Around 2 p.m, Evers announced he was authorizing the Guard. This initial deployment mobilized 125 Guard members, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, ATF, state troopers, DNR agents, and other local law enforcement agencies.

Beth, say the state leaders have been responsive to their requests. “The state has been fantastic as far as sending resources, from the very first minute that we asked them. They have sent everything that we’ve asked for. The resources and information they have passed to us, it’s immense.”

 
On Tuesday afternoon, Evers issued a state of emergency in Wisconsin and upped the commitment of the National Guard to 250 members after denouncing the “damage and destruction” that accompanied protests the night before,

2. Wanggaard: 

"Governor Evers initial comments were so out of line and inflammatory that they did more to incite the riots than calm them. His comments were so bad, that several days later police groups asked Evers to just stop talking about Kenosha. Think about that. People had so little faith that Evers would say the right thing, they asked him to just be quiet."

But Evers supposedly "incited" protesters by reminding everyone of their 1st Amendment right. That's not popular with Republicans:

"I know folks across our state will be making their voices heard in Kenosha and in communities across Wisconsin,” Evers said in a statement. “Every person should be able to express their anger and frustration by exercising their First Amendment rights and report on these calls to action without any fear of being unsafe.”

3. Wanggaard: "

Rather than accept the President’s help while Kenosha was on fire, Evers played politics. Governor Evers told the President he’d rather have COVID relief than help with the riots. Making the riots worse, being slow to send help, and rejecting help that was offered. 

In the back pocket of liar Trump, you can't rewrite this history. Gov. Evers turned down Trump's "help" because of this...

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows also appeared on Fox News that night and said Evers had turned down an offer from the federal government for additional support, by that point the Guard was already deployed in Kenosha.

Republican lawmakers Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Bryan Steil also issued statements calling on Evers to accept more aid from the president. Steil said he had reached out to Trump, who offered extra National Guard members and federal law enforcement agents.

That afternoon, Trump and Evers announced that the governor had accepted the U.S. government’s support, although Beth says that some federal agents had been onsite “since day one.”

4. Wanggaard: Lying former law enforcement officials are the worst kind:

"That’s what Governor Evers did a year ago. And rewriting history won’t change that.

Republican COVID-19 Deniers intentionally destroying Wisconsin Economy to Blame Evers in 2022? Sure, even if a few hundred have to die.

Question: Could the gerrymandered Republican legislature be planning on destroying the Wisconsin economy just so they can blame Gov. Evers in 2022? I think so:

The 44 Percent Super-Spreaders, Reason 1: Okay, instead of screaming at my TV, I'm going to just ask the question here; why are reporters skipping past the huge number of heavy breathing Wisconsin Trump supporters not wearing masks? Is there a reason why COVID-19 is spiking off the charts in mostly conservative area of the state? Maybe it's those Trump supporters, ya think? 44 percent will vote for Trump, almost half the state:

The 44 Percent Super-Spreaders, Reason 2: Think back on the failed Republican idea to "have a discussion about those statewide high COVID 'pocket's,' and leave the other areas alone." How'd that work out? As you can see conservative area's of the state are exploding, counties that had low infection rates once, while liberal mask wearing counties today...aren't. The last 14 days...:

The 44 Percent Super-Spreaders, Reason 3: So it's pretty clear Republicans are using the mask-free-Trump-induced statewide spread of the virus to claim that wearing a mask doesn't make any difference. And conservative voters will oddly go along with the same list of irresponsible, tired, and ridiculous sounding excuses every time there's a problem Republicans don't want to solve? Here are some:

1. "Let's look at things that we can do to manage that." But Republicans have already said they won't be stepping in to help, so...?

2. "We can have this very detailed discussion...let's step back..." Sure, we've got all the time in the world. 

3. "They had people that were in hospice that had days to live, and then they died from what they had, and they got labeled (as COVID)..." Republicans claim a large percentage of the 214,000 COVID deaths were really from other diseases. 

4. "The problem here is the legislature isn't at the table, it's not able to get the facts to help make good decisions." Remember when the Republicans took the Governors powers away? So what do they need him for? Or how about the mind-blowing idea the Legislature doesn't have access to the facts?

TOP 4 Republican COVID-19 Deniers, Killing People and the Economy: Wisconsin Republican comments, like State Sen. Chris Kapenga statements below, should be added to the historical record, documenting just how bizarre this do-nothing Trump-cult party prevented government from responding to anything. Here's the answer to Kapenga's false statement about ineffective masks:

Mark Kaufman, a physician and chief medical officer for the Wisconsin Hospital Association, said “No part of the state is untouched. The main reasons are a lack of individual and collective compliance with the public health measures that we know will work to control this pandemic.”

From WKOW's Capitol City Sunday:

Still embarrassing his district, Sen. Van Wanggaard said the same nonsense most Trump-trash supporters believe now is true. It'll blow your mind again. From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 

Reporter: "They're the premier health organization (CDC) in the country, why would they want to misrepresent information?"

Wanggaard: "I don't know if it was intentional..."

Reporter: "So the 210,000 people who have died this year..."

Wanggaard: "Could be much fewer than that."

From last week, Rep. John Nygren and Sen. Duey Stroebel made these breathtaking leaps of fantasy:

Sen. Duey Stroebel: "I'm not a scientist, I'm not a doctor, I think you can also look at some facts that say the masks haven't been changing anything, but then again..." 

Interiewer: "But Senator, that's not what your public health officials are saying...."

Economy will not recover until the virus is under control warns Federal Reserve Bank president.

Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said at a webinar held by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business association Wednesday, “This is not about politics — it’s about confidence.”

Kashkari’s overview of what’s ahead was not encouraging, he said people will be wary of going to restaurants, movie theaters and sporting events. “If thousands and thousands of businesses go bankrupt,” Kashkari said, “this recovery is going to be much slower.”

Employment in the manufacturing sector is still down by about 720,000 jobs nationally from February.

Republicans Legislate through the Courts with Lawsuits: With a gerrymandered permanent Republicans majority in control, they've set up a legal arm to take lawsuits to an activist conservative Supreme Court.

But wait, one judge is calling out that scheme:

St. Croix County judge R. Michael Waterman was appointed to the bench in 2015 by then-Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican. He said:

"The legislature can end the state of emergency at any time, but so far, it has declined to do so. As the statewide representative body of the citizens of Wisconsin, the legislature’s inaction is relevant and it weighs against judicial intervention, especially when the requested intervention will have statewide impact," Waterman wrote. The judge agreed with Evers that he can continually issue public health emergencies, which attorneys for the plaintiffs argued Evers could not do legally. Emergencies are limited to 60 days, but the governor can issue new ones after each emergency expires, Waterman said. "Plaintiffs in this case don’t ask to preserve the status quo; they ask to change it," Waterman wrote.

Former police officer Sen. Wanggaard part of the problem! So maybe he's the wrong guy for advice on Police Reform, ya think?

When will news media finally realize Republicans don't solve problems, and never will? 

Yet no one seems to have noticed this, all the while Republicans like State Sen. Van Wanggaard, a former police officer, are blocking attempts to reform policing to stop a growing problem that is dividing the nation. Sure, ask a guy who was a part of the problem.

Like the GOP's inaction on mass shootings, Wanggaard is repeating the same insulting talking points; there really isn't a problem, and more impossibly thinks we can change "human nature." In other words, we're not going to do anything. 

The thing is, Wisconsin Republicans have been playing this little trick for years; like saying "they'll look into it," or take the long way starting from scratch instead of relying on successful national and global studies to more quickly reach a solution. Oops, did I say solution? That's a word Republicans don't understand. Like this hard work from a Democrat:

After talking with experts across the country, analyzing best practices of police departments and reading through recommendations including the Police Enforcement Executive Forum’s Guiding Principles on Use of Force and former President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, she first introduced the bill in 2017.

This is a societal problem coming from public law enforcement agencies nationwide. Being public, citizens and their representatives get to call the shots on what is acceptable law enforcement.

Instead of seeing a problem, Wanggaard sees black protesters and supposed ANTIFA infiltrators, quite a different picture than the a few hundred good ole boy protesters carry guns and white nationalist confederate flags demanding we ignore the pandemic and get back to work.

Wanggaard's cheap shot at "liberal activists" says a lot about how seriously he takes an actual global protest. 

"...a scathing response from Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), accusing them of micromanaging and misunderstanding police. He dubbed the measure, “clearly written by liberal activists who have never served with law enforcement, and apparently never even talked or listened to them.”

In the Upfront interview below, Wanggaard would be happy dealing with the problem after-the-fact, when its already too late, just like he would with mass shootings. Here are some of his other cliched favorites...:

1. "...how did it happen, why did this happen."

2. "this isn't about throwing it out there, this is about doing it right."

3. "there's going to be sense of assuredly, that when an investigation is done, its not a coverup or like that, that we have actually someone going and looking at "what's happening, and how can we fix it so it doesn't happen."

Of course we're already at point 3, trying to fix it so it doesn't happen, but Wanggaard clearly doesn't  even agree with his own suggestion. Go figure. See, he and Republicans will never solve a problem, ever:



In another appearance, Wanggaard spewed out a few other classics that lets the carnage explode. WPT's Here and Now:

1. "No matter what is in this bill, would not have changed what occurred..."

2. "We need to get at the root cause...we need to look at how can we address those issues."

3. "We have a piece of legislation we've been working on for 2 years..."

Yea, he said that.



Police Reform? Who needs it...?

In Wisconsin, Democratic Voters Don't Count anymore....

I heard this incredible report on NPR's All Things Considered about Wisconsin's gerrymandering case in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday. I didn't want it to just fade away without highlighting it here. 

The piece starts with the reelection of the not so popular Van Wanggaard, who's district suddenly...again, liked him:

Journal Times: Van Wanggaard, 62, was elected to the 21st Senate District seat in 2010 but held the position for less than two years; he was recalled in 2012. The recall was largely driven by Wanggaard’s vote for Act 10, the controversial legislation that effectively ended collective bargaining for public employees.

Wanggaard was defeated in the 2012 recall by John Lehman, D-Racine, who opted not to seek re-election and instead ran for lieutenant governor.

Wanggaard prays for God's wisdom in "time of increased tension between police and "certain communities." You know who we're talking about...

Republicans like State Sen. Van Wanggaard know who to blame, and it sure ain't racists....

All this from the guy who wants to keep "all lives safe" by repealing the 48 hour cooling off period for gun purchases. Numskull idiots like this ignore the cause and effect of purely ideologically driven laws that run counter to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.   

So is it really "certain communities?"  

Republicans Backtrack on Cuts to Veterans Services in Wisconsin...ya think?

While Trump is oddly bragging about raising money for veterans through a phony right wing group with the ridiculous name, "Veterans for a Strong America," the Republican Party he represents is doing everything they can to punish, economically squeeze and ignore the quality of veteran services.

George W. Bush asked the veterans administration to not tell vets about their promised benefits so the nation could save money. True. Veterans in Republican states were also forgotten until something horrible happened, even after whistle-blowers were trying to get their attention.

So I wasn't surprised when Republican State Sen. Van Wanggaard put out a bill to save money on the backs of veterans. Blow back was immediate. WISC:

Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said a portion of a bill circulated for co-sponsorship last week related to county veterans service officers will be re-drafted.

Currently, every county in the state is required to employ a county veterans service officer. The bill changed language in state statutes saying counties "shall" have a CVSO to that they "may" have one. It also repealed language requiring counties to provide space for the veteran's office. 

Wanggaard isn't done with veterans, and he isn't done trying to attack their services, because he's proposing another one of those phony task forces that won't really listen to anyone. It just delays the inevitable. 

Wanggaard said after concerns from veteran's advocates, he said they're going back to the drawing board and create a task force to study it further with all the participants," Wanggaard said. The initial goal of the bill, Wanggaard said was to allow consolidation among counties with smaller veteran populations in order to save money and distribute resources more efficiently.

But Wanggaard left out one important fact; consolidation failed:

Bill Rosenau, CVSO for Waushara County and president of the County Veterans Service Officers Association, said only two counties have explored consolidation. Buffalo and Pepin counties had been combining services for the last year, until last week when it was decided the workload was too great to continue.

Cowardly Senators Fitzgerald and Wanggaard fear Dissent.

Republican are big cowards, ready to run for cover at the first hint of conflict. The fact that they're frightened by dissent makes them victims all over again, in a society they never felt comfortable in anyway.

Remember when Sen. Scott Fitzgerald ended the right-to-work hearings early because the unions were planning some kind of disruptive protest? Sure, it was complete bullshit, but their low information base loves that stuff because they're scared too.

Here's former police office and now cowering Sen. Van Wanggaard explaining the "threat" posed by Wisconsin citizens protesting their government. How dare they look so scary:

Wanggaard: "It was a different crowd of people that were coming into the Capitol..."

What, did they have horns and cloven hooves?



Sen. Scott Fitzgerald rushed the RTW bill because he thought attack ads might swaying senators to vote against it. The horror. Keep in mind, Republicans say money is free speech, and buys ads to sway voters and politician alike. It's clear Fitzgerald is trying to usurp those rights with quick passage. A real patriot:

Van Wanggaard's Gun obsession continues; from removing 48 cooling off period to Guns in Schools!!!

Concealed carry has started Wisconsin down the slipper slope of having no gun rules at all. The unintended consequences of that law? A societal change where guns are now considered just another part of the solution. The facts bear that out, from Political Heat:

From 2009 to 2013, (when their cooling off 48 hour wait was removed) the rate of violent crime in South Dakota went up by more than 70 percent.

(Since Wisconsin passed concealed carry:) From 2011 to 2013, the violent crime rate in Wisconsin went up by more than 17 percent. The rate of murders committed by guns in our state went up by more than 28 percent. 

Irresponsible recklessness isn't that same as "freedom," no matter how Republicans package it.

And wouldn't you know it, the guy pushing more gun lunacy is former police officer, recall election loser, and now public dole recipient State Sen. Van Wanggaard. He's already trying to do away with the 48 hour cooling off period, so starting the "guns in schools" drum beat is the next logical step, right?

In the WKOW video, check out the disheveled trash sitting next to him; Rep. Joel Kleefisch, the guy who brought us hunting near schools and in local parks.

What is Wanggaard's big government Republican plan; take away a local districts control over gun carry decisions at their schools. That's right, the party that hates top down, "one-size-fits-all" regulation has found another exception to the rule:

Here's Wanggaard and Democratic Rep. Fred Kessler on WPR, battling it out. Guess who's the adult in the room, and not the frightened little baby who's in the pocket of the NRA?

What this state needs is a bigger Republican Majority voting for bigger and bigger tax cuts.

You have to wonder why the private sector scares so many Republicans into seeking a government job.

They don’t give up either, because the perks are just to tempting. Freeloading ideologues like these have nothing to offer short of a few tired clichés about cutting taxes and being even more conservative. Forget about the structural deficit, continued borrowing, and simple upkeep of our deteriorating infrastructure, what we really need is a way to make it harder to pay our bills.

So it goes with another conservative loser with no ideas.  

Caledonia Patch: After Jonathan Steitz lost the 2011 recall attempt against state Sen. Bob Wirch, he told supporters that he knew there was a reason not yet clear to him for why he lost. “I know that God has a plan for my life.” The crowd clapped, and shouted “Amen” and “We love you.”

Steitz will take on another loser in a primary, former Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, who lost to Sen. John Lehman in his recall election. Times have changed too. Republicans gerrymandered the district into a fairly safe seat this time, despite the sane leadership of Lehman.

So why Steitz, besides being a part of God’s personal plan for the district?   

Steitz told the newspaper he believes he's the more conservative candidate … "(I've been) approached about running for this because there’s leaders across the state and in this district, who feel we need a more conservative Senate,” he is quoted as saying.

Doh! So that’s why we have lagging job growth in the state. The super Republican majority is in desperate need of another yes vote. 

Republican Phantom Voter Fraud in Racine Denounced by GAB!

While most won't be surprised by the final determination of the Racine DA's office, and GAB's conclusions, Republican lost another battle against voting rights. They did managed to get the mileage they hoped for, from their allegations of criminal intent by Racine voters, essentially vilifying the whole city. From the Mt. Pleasant Patch:

No criminal charges will be filed in connection with alleged voting irregularities in the June 5 recall election, the Racine County District Attorney's Office said Friday. District Attorney Rich Chiapete said his office received four separate complaints and while a complete investigation into the allegations was conducted, the information "did not rise to the level required for a criminal prosecution."

Coinciding with the DA's decision is a letter issued Friday from the GAB to Assembly Republicans addressing officials' concerns about the voting irregularities.

The GAB asked officials to wait for a determination from the Racine County D and Racine County Sheriff investigation. Kennedy's letter was sent to media shortly before the Racine County District Attorney's office announced its findings.

No Same Day Registration Verification Postcards...oops. How did Republicans get it so wrong?: 

According to Kennedy's citing of Wisconsin Statute 6.56(3), the 10-day timeframe is non-existent for same-day registrations. That 10-day rule only applies to registrations received via the mail or by Special Registration Deputy. Election officials have 30 days to enter same-day registrations into the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS) for most electons and 45 days for general elections. Because there was a recount in the 21st District, delays were expected.

The GAB is troubled by the over-the-top allegations of fraud by Republican thugs:

In the agency's conclusion, Kennedy pushed back a bit, too, saying that just the allegation of fraud without any substantial proof can make voters lose confidence in elections and the officials who administer them.

"I know we agree that elections should be open and transparent and subject to scrutiny and analysis. I hope that, as an elected official, you would also agree that there is little benefit in promoting unsupported allegations questioning the credibility of the election process and the work of local clerks and election inspectors," Kennedy wrote.

Check out the written complaint from the Racine Sheriffs department...HERE!

Calling out the phony outrage of voter fraud in Racine; prove it.

Taking the lead, One Wisconsin Now wants answers, and they want them now. Dragging this thing out in the press gives the advantage to right wing propagandists, muddying the waters around our  electoral system, and vilifying voters and poll volunteers, and generally establishing a history of "defending the vote."  

Patch: One Wisconsin Now issued a press release Friday turning up the heat on the Racine County District Attorney and the Racine County Sheriff to let people know what they found investigating claims of voting irregularities from the June 5 recall elections. “Republican appointees and campaign contributors convening an ‘investigation’ of an election lost by a Republican, based on the complaints of a Republican activist, looks a lot more like a partisan shenanigans than a legitimate inquiry,” said One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross. “They owe the people of Racine County answers and they owe it to them now.”

Deputy District Attorney Tricia Hanson would only say a joint press release would be issued sometime Friday that addresses the investigation. The statement will be a coordinated effort between the DA's office, the Sheriff's office and the county clerk. "A press release will be sent out sometime today," she confirmed.

The release from One Wisconsin Now calls out the DA and the Sheriff for dilly dallying because of their support for Gov. Scott Walker and Republican Van Wanggaard, pointing out that very few cases of voter fraud have ever been substantiated.

"The GOP continues to perpetuate the myth of widespread fraud despite similar investigations failing to uncover any. In 2008, for example, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen conducted a much-heralded investigation and found all of 14 improper votes out of the 3 million cast," the statement continues. "But this is what happens every election: baseless allegations by the Republicans claiming voter fraud that are proven time and time again to be complete and total lies.”

Republicans Trash Election Process…because They Lost the Recall. If things don’t change for them, they might lose another one.

Losing just one election has caused the Republican authority in this state to go into an epileptic seizure. After gaming the system in every way, denouncing the necessary recount in the Prosser/Kloppenburg race, even after Waukesha filed late returns and staff found open and misnumbered ballot bags to boot, Republicans are suddenly the paragons of election integrity? But will spot check a few computers with their paper ballots after an election, just to see if the computer counts are accurate? Didn't think so. Integrity my ass.

MtPleasantPatch: Republican Legislature leadership on Wednesday requested the Government Accountability Board examine and resolve alleged irregularities at the polls that came to light in the District 21 recall race.

The usual cry baby Republicans have surfaced: Rep. Robin Vos and Jeff Fitzgerald. 

This wasn't a mockery of the electoral system in Waukesha?

"The situation in the 21 Senate District is a wake-up call to the state," the Republicans wrote. "We have laws in the books that are not being followed and a recall election that made a mockery of our election system."

What about the law on the books requiring states to set up health insurance exchanges? Oh, I forgot, that’s a law they don’t like.

You kind of get the idea that they’re just making this stuff up too, distracting from their own possible election fraud, with their over the top 1,000 objections! I kid you not, it’s that bad...but not bad enough to hold up in court.

Despite logging more than 1,000 objections over irregularities primarily in the City of Racine during the recount, including voters not signing poll books and unsealed ballot bags, Wanggaard would not file an appeal an appeal in Racine County Circuit Court to challenge the results.

As Wanggaard put it: "There was just so much smoke created by what happened in the city that it's overwhelming. We have smoke, but no gun, so it doesn't make sense to file an appeal even with over 1,000 objections."

After the embarrassing mess in we saw in Waukesha, twice, Republicans are now saying a Democratic win is really "electoral mockery." 

Big difference ignored in Waukesha

"It's an utter mockery of our system and clerks are simply not complying with the law." To make things worse, the recount prevented the city from making the deadline for sending out same-day voter registration postcards.

Having created the above problem due to an unnecessary recount:

Wanggaard said those cards need to be mailed within 10 days and even read the statute to prove his point.

Van Wanggaard! The Bad, Bad Loser...goes after Criminal Voting Public!

It wasn't enough that Van Wanggaard held up conceding to recall winner and Democrat John Lehman by having a recount, no, now Wanggaard's goal in life is to vilify voters who had the gall to register in large numbers on election day. How dare they? If it wasn't for their votes, he would have won.

Wanggaard must thinks it's all part of a great citizen plot, where Racine Democrats conspired to turn out in large numbers, voting twice or more to oust the jolly old union buster himself. Only the paranoid conservative mind could dream up scenarios they alone would believe possible, and then project those daydreams onto Democrats.

What will Van Wanggaard do in his off time? The vindictive loser's goin' after voters. Patch:

Remember Van Wanggaard! The Bad, Bad Loser...STOPS TANTRUM.

UPDATE: Tuesday 8:50 am- Mt. Pleasant: The recall appears to be over for residents of the 21st Senate District. A statement from incumbent Republican Van Wanggaard's campaign confirmed Tuesday morning that he will not file an appeal in Racine County Circuit Court today to challenge the results of the recall election against him. The deadline to file a lawsuit contesting election returns is end of business today.

Rachel Maddow with the latest on the Republican politician that wouldn't leave, Van Wanggaard:

Sen. Wanggaard was asked to leave office by voters! What's wrong with the will of the people now?

Ever wonder how Republican polling places handled identification, electioneering, intimidation, possible computer election fraud etc.? Me too, but it never occurs to liberals to watchdog Republican polling places. Perhaps the next time, you with me?

I’m so tired of hearing them whine about election integrity when they don’t even care to check computerized voting machines with paper ballots. But that's another story.

So imagine my surprise when Sen. Van Wanggaard had the balls to make a public statement trashing the electoral process and Racine citizens over “alleged” and “perceived” irregularities by partisan tea party losers bused in from out-of-state. If anything should leave a bad taste in Racine's voters mouths, it’s a bad loser kicking and screaming his way out of office. The following response alone says, “go away.”

Wanggaard thinks you're ignorant.

Journal Times: State Sen. Van Wanggaard editorial: Almost three weeks ago, I asked for a recount in my senate election under the philosophy of “trust but verify.” Unfortunately, following the recount, we only have a verified vote tally … my campaign received reports of suspect activities at polling places … Electioneering and valid (were they?) legal challenges to voters were ignored by election officials, many of whom signed recall petitions. Election observers witnessed polling places being open after the polls closed … There was a suspiciously high number of same-day registrations and numerous reports of same day voter registration requirements being disregarded.

Wow, suspiciously high registration? We wouldn’t want that to happen. Besides his outrage over hearsay, Wanggaard somehow knew how “perfect” every other city’s poll books were. Proof please?:

For hundreds of clerks across Wisconsin, including every other community in Racine County, the poll books were in perfect order. Racine was accepting hand-written receipts, advertisements, and mail addressed to “resident” or “occupant” as residence proof in violation of law.

Proof please, in Racine and around the state, Mr. Wanggaard.

But Wanggaard is an authoritarian, so his next move is to cast doubt on the citizens of Racine, if they’ll let him. Hey Racine, Wanggaard thinks you’re ignorant and a cheat. He does resent…represent you right:

To further protect our election integrity, a municipality must send out address verification postcards to new registrants within 10 days of the election. If those postcards are returned, the voter is struck from the polls. Wisconsin’s election day laws are designed to protect the reliability of our electoral process and to prevent and deter fraud. They are simple and easy to read. Yet in the City of Racine, many were disregarded. Whether this was because of ignorance, negligence or misconduct we may never know. 

The final slap in your face? Imagine if what happened in Racine happened in…say, Waukesha? Is this asshole out to lunch?:

Imagine the uproar if these mistakes were found in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison, La Crosse, or Appleton in November.

I've had it with these snakes.

Lehman wins again, in recount, but that's not good enough for Republican thug Van Wanggaard.

The tortured recount will never end if Racine Republicans and Tea Party brownshirts continue to intimidate poll volunteers and local residents. I couldn't resist re-posting this creative picture at the Siren's site, showing a few Republican investigators questioning liberal terrorists.

Check out the whole bizarre story, and the lengths these thugs will go to kill the public's faith in anything. No one is closer to the story in Racine than the Siren.

I heard Scott Walker say that he would not call a special session with the Democratic senate, because Democrats won't agree with everything they would cover. 

Recall Blacklist Used Again, this time for Voter Fraud?

Vicki McKenna is an idiot.

She’s the wacky Bizarro World conservative talk host now broadcasting in three areas of the state, without programming oversight or accountability. WIBA’s program director Tim Scott has all but given up on the content quality of McKenna's show. McKenna's anything goes attitude has been met with rave reviews though, from her rabidly paranoid listeners, so why tell the truth. 

The manufactured world of radical conservatism: Check out this recent irresponsible McKenna Facebook post:

BREAKING: racine voter fraud: poll workers signed recall petition for sen. wanggaard#wiright.

To be clear, voter fraud was committed because a few poll workers signed a recall petition. This nonsensical thinking is what passes for content now. Sounding scary and distrustful of liberals works, so why not. 

The radically fringe think tank wannabe, MacIverInstitute, hatched this lunacy and later in the same article, said there was nothing illegal (or ethically wrong) with poll workers who signed the recall petitions. Doh!

Just so you can see for yourself their pretzel logic, I've peppered in their own quote admitting their outrage is complete bullshit, highlighted, throughout a sample of their carefully researched post:

A check of databases conducted by the MacIver News Service reveals that as many as 78 of the 189 people who worked as official poll workers in the City of Racine last Tuesday may have earlier signed recall petitions that ultimately forced the elections to be conducted.

Partisans are not disqualified from being poll workers.
…we ran their names against the iverifytherecall.com database of recall petition signers. Earlier this week, Media Trackers reported that a chief election inspector at one location, accused of ignoring GOP complaints over a voter's eligibility, had signed both the Gov. Walker and Sen. Wanggaard recall petitions.

Partisans are not disqualified from being poll workers.

Remember, neither Media Trackers or the MacIver Institute have offered tangible proof, just allegations, accusations and observations. I love the fact that they've resorted to dumpster diving too, nothing desperate about that:

Earlier, MNS reported that the Racine County Sheriff's department is investigating allegations that election related documents were found in a dumpster behind the Chavez center.

Oh no, not another recount? The following voter fraud fear mongering would be funny if it wasn't taken seriously by their low information voters:

On Friday, Wanggaard announced he was requesting a recount. "This is not about maintaining power or denying Democrats power," Wanggaard said in a statement. "But I also recognize that in the absence of a voter ID law and so many people suspicious of the election result, bitterness and division will only grow if the results are not recounted."

Wow. Here's what he and the Republican Party were saying when another recount took place, in a much closer race (.488 percent, well within recount limits), between Justice David Prosser and JoAnne Kloppenburg for the state supreme court. Surprised?

You really can't make this stuff up.

Republican Special Interests and Campaign Donors called in to investigate Wanggaard loss in Racine.

While the right wing in Wisconsin can't get over a few signs in the yard of a prosecutor in the Walker/John Doe investigation, put there by his public employee wife, they're just fine with putting campaign contributors in charge of a witch hunt over allegations of voter fraud in Racine. The allegations are the result of a well coordinated conservative media campaign to call into question the election process and dirty tricks by minorities as seen by partisan Walker "poll watchers." 

One Wisconsin Now's Scot Ross can't help but point out the obvious:

Noting the glaring conflicts of interest of the Racine County District Attorney, an appointee of Gov. Walker and campaign contributor to Sen. Wanggaard, and the Racine County Sheriff, a financial supporter of the local Republican Party, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross called on both officials to immediately recuse themselves from any investigation of local GOP complaints involving the recalls elections of Gov. Walker and Sen. Wanggaard.

One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross asked, “Is this Hazzard County or Racine County?” He continued, “Local officials with glaring conflicts of interest and cozy relationships with the losing candidate conducting ‘investigations’ of high minority voting population polling places that voted overwhelmingly against them looks a lot more like the Jim Crow-era South than modern day Wisconsin.”

In addition to publicly endorsing Sen. Wanggaard’s election, campaign finance records maintained by the State Government Accountability Board reveal the Racine County District Attorney contributed to Sen. Wanggaard’s campaign as recently as last month in addition to earlier financial support. The Racine County Sheriff is on record donating to local GOP politicians and the Racine County Republican Party.

The Racine City Clerk’s Office has reported that at both voting locations at which the GOP has lodged complaints about new voter registrations, the number of new voter registration forms in their files matches the number of new voters who registered and cast votes.

Ross noted that Sen. Wanggaards’s recount request today, publicly acknowledged by top GOP officials as having no chance of altering the outcome of the election...

I liked this response as well...

State Senate Democratic Committee Executive Director, Zac Kramer regarding the recount in the 21st Senate District: “We are disappointed that Senator Wanggaard’s last act as a senator will cost the tax payers of Racine County tens of thousands of dollars. It’s ironic that after all the talk from Republicans about moving Wisconsin forward, they contradict themselves once again by these relentless political games.” 

Know-it-all Racine Republicans can't believe they Lost Senate Recall, Whine about Everything.

The only Republican to lose in the last recall was Sen. Van Wanggaard.

You guessed it, those sneaky Democrats must have tricked everyone. How bent out of shape is the local Republican authority? Here’s a look at the paranoid ranting’s of lunatic fringer Lou Dabbraccio.

Note: Republicans always say minorities, liberals, teachers, students and their parents aren’t TAXPAYERS, like them. It’s insane, but we have to call them out on that little trick. You’ll also notice the confusion and overzealous nature of local Republicans to suppress the vote. Kinda makes me wonder what they're doing in other districts. A wonderful example. This piece was almost as long as Obamacare, so I’ve selected the best parts:

Ryan endorsement failed Fatty.

1: There were numerous “Get Out The Vote” efforts going on in Racine, including a major effort run from the Labor Center which utilized high school students … The student GOTV program,  previously run under the direct auspices of Horlick High School, this year was “run” by "Youth Empowered for the Struggle," a youth arm of radical illegal immigrant rights group "Voces de la Frontera." Y.E.S is organized in taxpayer-funded Racine Unified public schools, with guidance from teachers who collect a paycheck from Racine taxpayers … they still allowed … a day of partisan political activism instead of academics, by allowing students to participate in a democrat aligned Get Out The Vote effort … organized on school property, using school resources, and during school academic time. Students rode in vans covered in partisan political slogans exhorting people to vote for Barret, Mitchell, and Lehman, and dispatched from the Labor Center - hardly neutral political ground.

c. A teacher at Racine Horlick High School, was reportedly cited by Racine Police for aggressively forcing his way into an apartment building and screaming at residents to vote.

2. Sowing chaos at the polls … Union presence electioneering … Occurred at virtually every polling place … had a major disruptive presence of union activists. These people clad in “blue fist” or other union attire, attempt to influence the process by insidiously infiltrating the polls. These volunteers would … begin distributing drinks and food to voters, and directing traffic at the entrance, and would progress quickly to discussing voting with voters … we have encountered this particular union tactic before, and seen the kind of chaos they can create … At Festival Hall, two union goons wearing embroidered “Stop the War on Workers” polo shirts adorned with blue fist stickers attempted to start an altercation when I called the Racine Police and made a complaint of illegal electioneering.

c. Insufficient training: Poll workers received less training than our poll watchers received. In many cases they were unfamiliar with the law … Poll watchers found Chief Election Inspectors who were mishandling ballots, who ignored challenges, who ignored blatant electioneering … we had to correct them on the conduct of their job. Still others neglected to expel loiterers and union organizers from the polling place, unless the city clerk was called.

i. The statute provides for the use of utility bills as proof of residency … Racine water bills are addressed to “Occupant” not a specific person. Therefore, a Racine water bill cannot be used to prove residence. However, many poll workers were accepting this document, unless we specifically objected.

iv. A voter at Martin Luther King Community Center was allowed to vote three times. After being challenged on the third visit to the polls, her ballot was flagged and the challenge logged, but the ballot was put into the machine.

v. Challenge ignored : At the John Bryant Community Center, where I observed an individual attempting to register to vote, using a handwritten tear-out rent receipt, bearing the date 6/5/2012, to establish residency. I made a comment to the poll worker at the registration desk that the document did serve as proof of residency. The Chief Election Inspector, Lillie Cameron, walked over and began to chastise me for talking to the poll worker. I told her that it was my intention to challenge the elector. She ignored my statement. I told her, again, emphatically, that I challenged the elector … the poll workers completely ignored my challenge, and allowed the elector to receive a ballot. They blatantly and defiantly ignored my legal right of challenge.

i. In many cases, poll workers had to be repeatedly reminded that voters were to state their name and address upon approaching the table, and were not to be prompted by poll workers. Prompting could facilitate election fraud.

Racine County Republicans biggest friggin’ whiners and losers. Could somebody find their pacifier?

What a bunch of authoritarian crybabies. Not happy with a wildly partisan flip in government, political attacks on unions; labor; teachers and firefighters, now they want their 21^st senate district seat back because the boundaries have changed. Aw, poor things. You’ll notice the party is making the claim, and not one angry resident.

Caledonia Patch: Some residents who live in the new 21st Senate District didn't vote in the June 5 recall election and are now claiming they were disenfranchised, according to the Racine County Republican Party … county GOP Chairman Bill Folk said residents in parts of Racine and Kenosha counties feel a little cheated.

"Voters in the new 21st are truly disenfranchised because they didn't have the opportunity to cast a vote for who will represent them until 2014."

Big surprise?

An attorney for the state Government Accountability Board, which oversees elections in Wisconsin, points out that this process takes place every 10 years. "A lot of individuals are now being represented by people they did not vote into office," said Mike Haas. "Theoretically, the Legislature would have considered this when redistricting." … the law said it would only apply for those conducted "concurrently with the 2012 general election" in November. "The language is plain about when the new districts go into effect," Haass said.

Looks like more bad government from the party that hates it so much.