Republican says Stop! But Ruthless Robin Vos stays with Bumbling "Justice" Gableman!

Even though Democrats have been saying the Gableman fraudit should end now, supposedly for partisan reasons, they are now oddly proven right since a Republican has jump on board calling the 2020 election audit a fraud and should be stopped:

 

"Mr. Gableman is coming to my county and I will attend that meeting along with my concealed carry permit, to be perfectly honest, because (the election review) keeps jazzing up the people who think they know what they're talking about, and they don't," Bernier said.

Just to give you an idea of what this guy looks, this former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice (not kidding) here's a classic Gableman moment: 

Gableman's seething outrage over the Mark Zuckerberg money that helped Democratic as well as Republican districts carry out the election is truly a surreal rage:

Court rulings have found nothing illegal about the more than $10 million in grants CTCL distributed to about 214 municipalities in 39 of Wisconsin’s 70 counties, including many in areas solidly won by former President Donald Trump. Nor did CTCL turn down grant requests from any of the Wisconsin municipalities that made them.

Gableman pulls off Endorsing Republican without objection from Vos Legislature: Then, this just happened...

JSOnline: "I knew there would be criticism. I did not know there would be this universal defense mechanism even among some people in the leadership of the Republican Party, who would rather just let — who would rather just let this go. But we can't let it go. We can't let it go. … They come for us in tiny, tiny steps. They come for us in millimeters. And if you give a millimeter, they're going to push and you've got to back up more. You back up, they're going to push you again and you've got to back up more. I am done backing up. And I hope you are, too."

Gableman made the comments at the Rock County Republican Party’s "Merry Politics" event. He's slated to attend a similar event on Dec. 20 with the Chippewa County Republican Party.

Imagine a Democratic former Justice doing this?

Sen. Kathy Bernier, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Elections, wasn't the only person calling for end to this slow moving and costly taxpayer debacle:

She was joined by Ben Ginsberg, who spent nearly four decades representing Republicans in election disputes. "We are here today because Wisconsin has found itself really in the middle of a harmful and disturbing national trend that involves the intimidation of election officials — the people who are supposed to call balls and strikes in our elections," Ginsberg said

Bob Bauer, who served as White House counsel during Barack Obama's presidency said Gableman's comments — "and the partisan context in which he received this assignment" — show Gableman is not right for the job. The partisan reviews in Wisconsin and other states are “pseudo audits being organized for partisan political purposes by those who do not have the wherewithal to meet any kinds of standards whatsoever," Bauer said.

Blame Democrats for Lousy Inept Gableman Fraudit? Sure, why not: 

Robin Vos said it was Democrats who were preventing Gableman from completing his work sooner. "Instead, invoking McCarthyism has been their only motive, trying to discredit the investigation rather than finding ways to improve the system and prevent fraud going forward."

Milwaukee CBS58's Emilee Fannon asked the right question and got the ever-arrogant Vos to confidently...stop lying for one moment: 

And well before the clown car known as the Gableman "investigation" began, the escalation of death threats to election workers were still not even on Vos-Republican radar. Seriously, there was not one attempt to stop what were essentially Trumpian terrorist threats against public servants and their families. It didn't even muster an investigation:

Reuters reported last week that an article on Gateway Pundit, the far-right website known for spreading hoaxes, alleging "thousands of fake votes" had been discovered in Madison resulted in angry calls and death threats against Madison city clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl. Witzel-Behl is among 25 election officials who have been targeted by more than 100 threats arising out of the Gateway Pundit post, Reuters reported. Messages to at least five of the officials, including Witzel-Behl, were deemed serious enough to report to law enforcement.

Gableman's "friendly court" to Arrest Madison and Milwaukee's Democratic Mayors? You can't make this up. From WPT's Here and Now: 

Meme Governor Candidate Becky Kleefisch Blissfully sees no Problem: Kleefisch even "thinks" the investigation will restore confidence in Wisconsin elections, never mind that a Republican loss will only be reversed someday anyway:

Vos-Republicans do nothing, total silence on School board and Election officials Death Threats, no investigations, nothing!

The way I see it, duped QAnon-ish parents that never believed in COVID-19 or that schools should ever have been closed down can't be taken seriously, especially after their embarrassing juvenile outbursts at school boards. Making death threats to elected and volunteer public officials seems illegal, right? Out of San Diago County a scene that no longer shocks us:

The fallout from a racist rant during a San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting has apparently cost comedian Jason Robo a weekly radio gig in northern California.

Death threats, what death threats? Like the Pandemic, Vos-Republicans won't acknowledge or do anything about right-wing death threats to election officials and school board members: Their silence keeps the momentum going for what seems to be a "one-size-fits-all" deadly scheme to win elections nationwide with two "big lies:" a stolen election and CRT. 

The National Parents Union, a parents’ rights group that often opposes teachers’ unions, laid out a vision of the nation’s political future — and a stark warning.

“This is only the beginning of the parent revolution,” said Keri Rodrigues, co-founder and president of the group. “Politicians will have to make a choice: Either work with parents and families on reimagining education, listen to their concerns [and] govern in their best interests ... or get voted out of office.”

Gee, that can't be manipulated by scheming right-wing media and QAnon believers.

 

1. What, Vos-Republican Election Audit = Death Threats, still No Investigation? After Vos met with Trump, we were suddenly given Gableman's election McCarthyism, and the Kleefisch Lawsuit that is only meant to encourage threats to liberal/conservative election officials...Upfront: 

2. Pitchfork Opposition to Mythical Critical Race Theory, not taught in public schools: Using their own kids to feign anger and frustration over imagined CRT and "communist indoctrination," Republican legislators aren't out investigating the threats or correcting the lies.  

The recall of four Mequon school board members was based on "issues over critical race theory," which isn't taught, and "disagreements over COVID-19 mitigation efforts" that closed schools during the pandemic which has not gone away. 

And that decline of our kids' education during the pandemic closings...?

Vos-Republicans Feign Outrage over simple Reference to CRT, for votes and UW Defunding: Republicans will be jamming this nonsense down our throats for the cheap thrills their voter's demand. What I've figure out is the subtle omission of the word "supremacist" between the words "white" and "students" in the quote below:  

Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said it was “unacceptable” and “appalling” to mandate training that “instills the university’s negative opinion of white __ students and the idea that students should feel guilty simply because of their race.”

Of course, no one is saying students "should feel guilty," a ridiculous and outright fabrication never corrected by media reporting. You can bet this will result in more death threats.

CRT leads to Banned Books and Burnings: Here's that unbelievable story from Virginia where parents are getting to design curriculum for public education: 

When School Boards Change...: Here's what teachers will be teaching instead, all the while dividing parents from their kids, possibly forever. Really, Trump is still president?:

Heck I might just start threatening school board members.

Arming and the call for War: The Trumpian losers don't know when to stop, when to question, and when to just read the damn story for once instead of the headline:

Kevin Hermening's views on fascism, debating with Ed Fallone, Associate Professor of Law at Marquette University.  From a blog post in 2013:

Vos-Republicans ignore public and Gerrymander Gerrymandered maps. Vos jokes Democrats "out of step with the majority of Wisconsin!"

Authoritarian much?

Gerrymandering: It hasn't mattered what Wisconsinites wanted or thought, since the huge protests against Act 10: The shocking reaction to the Republican's new gerrymandered-gerrymandered maps didn't appear to make a damn bit of difference:

One week after Don Leake, a retired UW-River Falls math professor, and more than 150 people testified for almost 10 hours before a joint committee hearing over the proposed maps, a state Senate committee approved the maps, sending them to the Senate floor for a vote. Other than Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Sen. Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), none of the commenters spoke in favor of the Legislature’s proposed maps.

Stroebel's Gaslighting Fail: Despite not having any support for the GOP maps...not one person, Sen. Duey Stroebel simply stepped up and lied. Like no one would notice?

The committee's chairman, Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, pushed back. He said that just because dozens of people registered against the bill last week, that’s not “indicative” of what voters across the state feel.

Portal Closes on the Truth: If you believe Robin Vos, after hundreds of "Draw your district" maps were submitted, Republicans already knew what the results would be:

The Legislature submitted its maps hours after closing the portal on the Draw Your District website, casting doubt on Vos’ claim that Republicans actually took public input into consideration because of the considerable time it takes to draw an electoral map.

...but if that's too hard to believe...

Vos instead characterized the discussion as nothing more than whining from the opposite party: “Democrats have a problem with winning in Wisconsin because your agenda is out of step with the majority of Wisconsin.”

Vos Lied Again: Democrats are "out of step with the majority of Wisconsin?" Discarding that laughable excuse to do nothing because Republicans "won't govern by polls," reality tells a different story:

Whose agenda is out of step? On the biggest issues...

Vos-Republicans Exposed: Attack Cities, Kill Businesses and Jobs, Strangle Local Governments limiting Shared Revenue, and Refuse allowing Local Sales Tax!!!

Fairly conservative columnist Tom Still continues to inadvertently criticize the Vos-Republican economic policies for killing jobs and new businesses. From ignoring broadband to defunding the huge economic engine of this state...the University of Wisconsin. 

Republicans Killing Wisconsin Economy and Reason NOT to Live Here #1: Here's what floored me; Republicans decided not fund the UW's Engineering Department. There is no blowback of any kind from capitalist loving conservative voters. Let's start with federal funding:

The federal government is poised to make its biggest investment in research and development since the end of World War II, with 100 billion dollars to improve U.S. competitiveness in a changing world. With one of the nation’s leading research universities, other academic research hubs and a vibrant manufacturing sector, Wisconsin should be positioned to vie for those dollars once approved by Congress and the president.

But absent more state investment in Wisconsin engineering centers at the heart of the federal effort, that might not be the case.

The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act would establish partnerships between universities, government and industry, with 10 interdisciplinary research hubs to transfer science and technology into innovative goods and services while boosting metro, state and regional economies.

Wow, what an opportunity wasted. That's right, the Vos-Republican multi-billion dollar tax cut crossed Wisconsin off the list of jobs and business:

The Wisconsin Legislature’s decision not to fund a two-part plan to build the first new engineering complex on campus since 2002 to replace a research and instructional facility that dates to 1930. The state budget proposal didn’t survive the final cut in the Joint Finance Committee. 

Republicans Killing Wisconsin Economy and Reason NOT to Live Here #2: It's now very clear that TAX CUTS have absolutely replaced everything, including investments in education, infrastructure, people, public health, and businesses. They have sold their souls, short changing share revenue to cities, just to turn rural communities against cities filled with liberals. 

Strangling Shared Revenue, It's Killing our State: Here's the whole story, a must see. Here and Now:

Steve O’Malley is the La Crosse County administrator: "For most of the last two decades, we’ve seen little growth in any form of state or federal revenue. And we have the most restrictive levy limits in the nation." O’Malley says state and federal mandates require them to maintain highways, the jails, the courts and provide human services all without additional revenue. "You end up having to cut budgets. You have to cut positions. We’ve steadily decreased the number of full-time employees within La Crosse County, as have most counties across the state." 

Plus...

Roger Stanford is president at Western Technical College, which covers an 11-county area centered in La Crosse. They too had limited authority to raise property taxes wiped out by Governor Walker. "Right now, those limits are going to really strangle us."

Andrew Reschovsky is a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin. He studies public affairs and one of his studies found only about half of the school levy credit goes to Wisconsin homeowners. The rest of the credits go to the owners of farmland, commercial property, industrial property and out-of-state owners. Most of the credit goes to wealthy property areas.

Janesville tells the same story, from WKOW's Capitol City Sunday: 

Julie Underwood, former dean of the UW-Madison School of Education and board president for the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, explains how dramatic it was to see no money for schools:

I recently posted this out of Milwaukee, Mayor Tom Barrett's plea for more shared revenue and an added half cent sales tax:

This is a problem created by Republicans, who have been indirectly defunding the police through reduced shared revenue, and it's no accident. Marketwatch: 

The state’s revenue had increased 61% over the past two decades, yet Milwaukee would receive $272 million in 2021, less than the $284 million the state shared in 2003, when the city’s general fund was 25% smaller.

As its income dwindles, Milwaukee has lost 160 sworn police officers, or nearly 10% of its force, over the past few years.

That "Defund the Police" outrage just Projection: 

“Without a doubt, the most effective defunder of the police in Wisconsin is the Republican-led legislature,” Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat in office since 2004, told MarketWatch. “I’ve been arguing for years to give me more resources. They’re essentially trying to strangle local governments.”

This is a National Republican Strategy, Stopping Progressive Future Change from ever Proving it Works: 

But to Barrett it’s ironic that Wisconsin finished fiscal 2021 with a $2.6 billion surplus, and expects an even larger surplus in 2022, yet legislators can’t find a way to share any of that with locals. And lawmakers don’t seem any more inclined to “review” their restrictive policies than they were before the pandemic. “They have a surplus, and they won’t throw us a bone,” Barrett told MarketWatch. “They’ve won. They strangled us. We don’t have much left.”

Here's more from Marketwatch, exposing how Republicans are purposely making the problem worst:

A 2018 National League of Cities report noted that state legislatures had used pre-emption: “Recent pre-emption has pitted rural- and suburban-dominated state legislatures against cities with large populations of low wage earners and ethnic minorities.” 

Barrett said, “I think it’s a winning (Republican) political philosophy for the rest of the state to be pitted against Milwaukee and Madison.” 

Matt Fabian, a partner with Municipal Market Analytics said, "In general when cities default it’s less about finances and more about what the state does to not help the city navigate a situation.

Napoleon Wallace and Activest, a research firm he co-founded, said “When state legislatures limit the agency and capacity of local government to meet the demands of their residents, the result is generally a broken fiscal environment that harms communities of color and restricts [cities’] ability to operate in the best interest of their residents.”

“In a lot of areas, the role of state pre-emption and the ability to limit taxing at the local level is a very well-constructed apparatus that allows for gerrymandered state legislatures to impose their will on diverse cities,” he said. When states limit cities’ policy-making abilities, “you make it hard for progressive interests even when they have support among residents. You hamper their ability to finance progress.”

Party of Political Punishers: Republicans replace school funding with...a Tax Cut?/Republican Lock in Police Funding, shred Local Control!

1. The school funding hoax that's really a tax cut scheme by Vos-Republicans deserved some attention today.

After a suffering a year long pandemic, that's all school districts need right now is to work through a punishing defunding scam.

The best and simplest explanation for this insult to every referendum voting parent in their school district was neatly compiled in this string of tweets from Wisconsin Budget Project's Tamarine Cornelius:

2. Punishment Politics, Police Funding-Style: After 11 years of gerrymandered Republican rule, local control is but a fading memory. Disconnecting Police departments from accountability even more than they are now, comes this brutal punishing stranglehold white Republican will have locally. Thanks to Tamarine Cornelius again:

Despite Vos-Republicans 300 day Hiatus during the Pandemic, they claim Gov. Evers record "abysmal failure and absent leadership." Projection.

How different things in Wisconsin would have been if just two Democrats agreed to rush the ratification of labor deals with public unions in 2010, before Scott Walker took office (try finding any reference of this online). Now another two Democrats are blocking the parties agenda, this time nationally with  Sen. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. 

Democrats have not been able to roll out their vision of government, so who's to know? 

1. Biggest Win by Republicans? Stopping Democratic Agenda: By stopping Democrats, Americans will never know if Democratic policies work, if they are better, or if they would fail. With no way of knowing, Republicans can make up anything they want, and manufacture fear around socialism and communism. When Gov. Evers said he was seeking a second term, he pointed this out. WSJ:

“The one predictable thing about this pandemic — and heck, ever since November of 2018 — is that Republicans will do everything in their power to stop our success, to keep us from getting things done, to keep Wisconsin headed in the right direction.”

2. Wisconsin's own QAnon Cultists: Yes, it's a cult of mass deception and manufactured lunacy currently pushing "communism" and a weird kind of "multi-level" projection. Vos-Republicans love it and are exploiting it.

Thing is, you can't begin to reason with them, or you would be the one projecting. Here are a few examples from my wacky friend in Milwaukee. You might be getting a lot of this same stuff from people you know as well:

But he does sent me stories that alert me to the QAnon crisis building nationwide. I don't think we have much time left as a democracy. Not kidding.

3. Nearly a Year, Republicans took a 300-day hiatus from passing COVID-19 legislation, yet Evers was Slow to Respond? Informed that Evers was running for a second term, Republicans want you to forget how they did nothing. Even under Republican majority rule at the Capitol, it's all Evers fault, blame him. But the reality and nuance of each issue below, even help from outraged Vos-Republicans...out the window:

WISGOP: “Over the past three years, Wisconsinites have suffered the consequences of an administration fraught with mismanagement, incompetence and a governor who has been asleep at the wheel. (1) Tony Evers had no plan to handle unemployment claims after shutting down our state’s economy, (2) no plan to address the violence in Kenosha after refusing federal assistance, (3) no plan to reopen schools while students were struggling, and now (4) has no plan to address the labor shortage while business owners are begging him for help. Evers has nothing to run on except a record of abysmal failure and absent leadership.”

 And yes, grotesque projection:

(5) “His only record of accomplishment is he’s really good at blaming Republicans.”

Blaming Republicans for taking a 300 day hiatus during the pandemic, THAT'S unfair? 

Here's a little reality poking through the web of lies: (1.) The system handling unemployment needed replacing, Evers begged for that, but Republicans just canceled funding for it. (2.) He properly responded to Kenosha's request for help. (3.) Evers had a plan to reopen schools but Republicans fought against treating the pandemic like it was real. (4.) The labor shortage predates Evers and unemployment rate is now nearly the same as it was before the pandemic. (5.) Looks who's blaming who.

Gov. Evers saves Taxpayer money with Foxconn, Vos/Walker still losing money from reneged Talgo Train car debacle.

I was surprised by the announcement this morning that Gov. Evers and Foxconn came to a new contractual agreement, requiring fewer taxpayer dollars and allowing greater flexibility to Foxconn's shifting market plans:  

State Journal: Gov. Tony Evers said the new agreement "works for Wisconsin taxpayers while providing the support Foxconn needs to be successful here in our state."

“In response to unforeseeable economic conditions, Foxconn began formal negotiations with a desire to lower taxpayer liability in exchange for the flexibility to pursue business opportunities that meet market demand,” Jay Lee, Foxconn board member and vice chairman, said in a statement. Foxconn's original contract is unique in that it specifies exactly what the company needs to build in order to receive state tax credits.

And Foxconn didn't build it, soooooo new contract time. 

Can Robin Vos allow Gov. Evers this Victory? Vos just made it clear he didn't want a new deal, and as a new WEDC board member, cosplay-governor Robin Vos blasted Evers for "reneging" on the original Walker agreement. Vos believes Foxconn is currently a "success" because...

Vos: "...anyone who drives by Foxconn and sees huge buildings that are going up...," 

Yup, a sure sign of success, "huge buildings." 

Shockingly, this is what "fiscally conservative" Vos is defending (take notice voters):

There's more too... From Upfront:

Vos will say Foxconn is only saying nice things now because they have no choice and have to work with Gov. Evers. Note: WEDC might want to keep Vos out of any negotiations in the future:

Vos: "And Foxconn is making concessions, uh, because they are having their back up against the wall, even though they were meeting the goals that were set." 

Again, straight from Foxconn's Jay Lee on the renegotiated agreement: 

"...a desire to lower taxpayer liability in exchange for the flexibility to pursue business opportunities that meet market demand." 

2011-Remember when Vos/Walker Reneged on Talgo Trains? You can't get how hypocritical Vos-Republicans are, and reckless with taxpayer money. This Vos comment above stood out:

Vos on new Foxconn agreement: "I think it's sad, that when a company cuts a deal, with any entity like the state, that a new elected official comes in and tries to change it. It doesn't seem right." 

Vos and Scott Walker actually did just that, for real though; 

WSJ-November 2012: The state of Wisconsin has defaulted on an agreement to buy two sets of passenger rail cars from Talgo in Milwaukee … the state has instead decided to breach its contract with Talgo. Talgo CEO Antonio Perez said that the company invested in Wisconsin and created manufacturing jobs but "I don't see how any company in the future would choose to do business with the state of Wisconsin when the state has shown that it cannot be trusted to honor contracts that it has signed."

Even worse? In Nov. 2019, Wisconsin still had to buy new train cars with taxpayer money. Tossing taxpayer dollars away is a serious Republican problem:

JSOnline: Wisconsin taxpayers are spending $13 million on new Amtrak train cars even though they've already paid $60 million on a different set of train cars they will never get to use. In a 2015 settlement with Talgo, the Walker administration agreed to give Talgo more money — and let the company keep the trains.

Most of that money was borrowed and the state will pay $20.5 million in interest over 20 years. That will bring the total cost to $80.5 million.

Taxpayers will be paying off the debt on the trains the state will never use until 2036.

Back in Dec. 2011, Vos outright lied and couldn't stop whining about the Talgo train JOBS coming to the city of Milwaukee. He's a business and job killer: From Upfront Dec 2011:

As for Foxconn's ability to adapt to market forces, here's a recent video about possible EV's being produced in Wisconsin. Note; they're also considering Mexico:

Reality Check: Vos-Republican Corporate Tax Cuts have Failed, but Rewarded CEO's, not Blue Collar workers.

When tax cut policy continues to fail, it would seem logical not to keep making those same tax cut mistakes over and over again? Not for Republicans, or their blissful low information voters. 

Tax Cut Obsession got old in the 1900's, But can it possibly get lower still? Is there a bottom limit?

Let's deep-six this 1900's way of thinking forever. You can only cut taxes just so much before our civilized society can't support itself anymore, can't progress, and can't pay forward money needed to help upcoming generations. Also interesting and true:

"The link between taxes and economic growth and development, however, has been widely challenged by economists. Historically, the states with the highest taxes also tend to be the highest income, while states with the lowest taxes also tend to be the poorest." - UW Extension 

List of Walker/Vos-Republican Failures...

1. Manufacturing Tax Credit: No jobs requirements or pay increases...  

Tax savings to business owners of the manufacturing and agriculture tax credit has totaled $1.4 billion since 2011, and in 2019 alone totaled $334 million, meaning other taxpayers must make up that amount to help pay for services such as education, health care, public safety, and road repairs. Figures from September 2019 show state manufacturers employed 6,800 fewer workers in that month compared to one year earlier, continuing a trend of losses in that sector.

From Jake's Wisconsin Funhouse:

The "fiscal conservative" estimates were just more Vos-Republican gaslighting, costing the state massive revenue losses...oh well:

2. Kimberly Clark Corporation: Scott Walker's myth about Wisconsin's business tax cuts hurting Illinois? Guess what, Illinois has similar corporate tax cuts, but with one big advantage, the tech industry, that same industry Vos-Republicans have totally ignored through lack of funding at the UW and Dane County level:

The relocation will help K-C work more with marketing, digital, and technology businesses in the Chicago area.

Kimberly-Clark also got a major tax break from the recent Piece of Shit tax bill that was jammed through by Republicans in Washington DC. In fact, Kimberly-Clark cited those tax cuts as a reason for the layoffs, because it allowed to begin a wide-scale restructuring in 2018, letting them reap the benefits of the "cost-cuts" by being taxed less.

This prompted Wisconsin US Senator Tammy Baldwin to ask why state and federal governments was giving so many breaks to a company that would cut so many Wisconsin jobs.

3. Foxconn: "Capitalism" and a $2.8 BILLION Taxpayer sweetened Scott Walker Debacle, endorsed by who else, grifter Trump: 

Foxconn Technology Group is in breach of contract for failing to construct a high-tech screen plant in Mount Pleasant, while local governments spent hundreds of millions of dollars to prepare for the project, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by a real estate development company … the state agreed to provide up to $2.85 billion of tax incentives if Foxconn met certain hiring and capital investment thresholds. The state has yet to award the company tax credits for those purposes; however, millions of taxpayer dollars have gone toward infrastructure upgrades.

4. Summer Sales Tax Holiday shortchanges local Governments: It's a nice idea, but; Vos-Republicans are generous with business tax cuts, but won't replace lost local tax revenue with state backed money. Similar to this was the UW tuition freeze that should have been replaced with additional state funding to our state colleges.

Madison.com: The Department of Revenue said the push would decrease state sales tax collections by an anticipated $159 million and county sales tax revenue by $13.3 million. But it wouldn't allocate money to counties or the state make up for the anticipated loss of dollars — a point some Democratic critics homed in on as they floated an amendment to backfill local governments (it was dismissed as not germane to the bill).

In other words, the results aren't accidental when you consider who funds Republican candidates: