All told, close to $110 million in political advertising has been spent through May 21, according to Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks such spending, and it’s left residents with a bad case of election fatigue.Yes, it is insane. Too much politics. It's really unfair to normal people.
“And that leaves a good three weeks of spending not accounted for yet,” McCabe cautioned. “Just a ton of money for a relatively small state. Insane.”
June 4, 2012
"Wisconsin voters essentially have been asked to cast ballots every 60 days for more than a year..."
"... and they’ve been exposed to a relentless barrage of television and radio advertisements, mailers, phone calls, yard signs, stump speeches and debates."
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Please vote for my daddy.
- Sasha Obama at Fort Wayne, Indiana picnic
Just consider it a new industry in the state. Jobs for law grads - writing ads, researching, polling, lying, etc.
Make lemonade.
The personal is political, and so the political gets personal.
That may be part of the plan. The zealots will vote and vote and vote, but the rest of you have lives and get sick and tired of it all. Then they win. The recall forces want the vote to be close enough to trigger recount after recount and win the election in the law courts in Madison.
KenK beat me to it. This fatigue is a deliberate strategy. Like an EU vote, this strategy sends a message: You're going to keep voting over and over again until you "get it right," then you'll stop voting.
One child does his homework and gets straight A's, the other is a screamy, whiny PITA. Which gets attention, and which gets what it wants when all you want is peace and quiet after a long day at work?
Hey, it's government money, right?
The people don't own it, so the Demos have every right to use it to get the result they want to further the people's interest.
KenK said...
That may be part of the plan. The zealots will vote and vote and vote, but the rest of you have lives and get sick and tired of it all. Then they win. The recall forces want the vote to be close enough to trigger recount after recount and win the election in the law courts in Madison.
That's very Lavrenti Beria of you, sir.
WV A horseshoe upside down?
Ann, we gotta talk.
Why does the inheritance requirement in "Brewster's Millions" leap to mind?
Too much politics. It's really unfair to normal people.
I wonder what "normal" means?
$110 million in advertising? I assume that is a dramatic increase over what would have been spent without the recalls. If so, there would seem to be an incentive for the media to do all it can to intensify political controversy.
Also, it's possible that the extra spending on political advertising helped to stimulate the local economy. Wouldn't it be ironic if that spending helped fuel the job growth that ensured Walker's re-election?
I don't recall voting that often before November, but we did have last November, then February (school board?), April (not sure what this one was), May (Primary) and now June.
Maybe Feb was the school board Primary, and April the actual election. That sounds right.
Americans have the right to tune out politics and just focus on bird watching.
Also, it's possible that the extra spending on political advertising helped to stimulate the local economy. Wouldn't it be ironic if that spending helped fuel the job growth that ensured Walker's re-election?
Bullshit. At most it's created a few dozen temporary jobs.
Don't worry. Once the good guys win, you'll never have to vote again.
Makes me think of Saki's "The Great Weep".
"I don't recall voting that often before November ..."
You may not recall, but we have your voting records right here, MM.
The unions brought you this political fight. Remember that, please.
I wonder what "normal" means?
Normal means a source of a vampire's blood supply not a Dem/Gubmint Union vampire.
Besides Garage Majhal, another commenter not heard from lately is Roesch/Voltaire.
Last week he was going on about Walker's alleged plan to privatize deer hunting lands.
Recall challenger Tom Barrett says “Scott Walker has a plan to privatize state lands” and “wants to sell our deer to the highest bidder.”
Rated False/Pants-on-Fire by PolitiFact
Picking up on chain email and internet rumblings, Democratic gubernatorial recall challenger Tom Barrett is hunting for votes in the June 5, 2012 election by aiming for Wisconsin’s 600,000 deer hunters.
Gosh, if he (Barrett) read it on the internet, how can it not be true?
"Besides Garage Majhal, another commenter not heard from lately is Roesch/Voltaire.
Last week [R/V] was going on about Walker's alleged plan to privatize deer hunting lands."
My respect for R/V really took a dive over that one.
We should start a pool as to the day garage returns.
Yes, it is insane. Too much politics. It's really unfair to normal people.
You must have thought "the personal is political" was just another brain-dead slogan, like "make love, not war." It isn't. It's the raison d'etre of the left. Want voter ID? You're a racist. Want the government to exercise some fiscal probity? You hate poor people. Want school choice? You hate children. And we will bash you over the head again and again and again until we get what we want.
That's the daily life of the Garages, Ritmos, Hats, Loves and Shilohs of the world. Make everything political so that people who don't spend every waking moment seething with BDS get frustrated, drop out and give them the default win.
I can only say, Althouse, that if the absolute moral bankruptcy displayed by the left during this election cycle doesn't convince you to vote ABO, then you're a lost cause.
It's just gov't/leftism at work.
The special interests are always paying attention [or paying someone to do so] for their interests, while the general population is "too busy."
This is the nature of gov't. You give it the power, people will use it to help themselves [at the expense of others].
You may not recall, but we have your voting records right here, MM.
(laugh). Oh yeah, forgot about that.
Maybe I just don't look back and think Oh, but I just voted but rather am looking forward. Forward! It's the state motto, after all.
I wonder how many poor folks could have been fed and clothed on all that money. . . . .
I am sensing premature celebration by the Walkerites. Hope my senses are wrong.
If Walker wins this he should go for the kill afterwards. Get a state right to work act passed and extend his collective bargaining bill to cover all state and local employees. Then next January ask the Romney DoJ to investigate the Dane County prosecutor's office and the WPD.
I am sensing premature celebration by the Walkerites. Hope my senses are wrong.
Im not. Im sensing excitement and enthusiasm for finally getting out to the polls tomorrow.
Hmmm, very interesting
AllieOop said...
Hmmm, very interesting
Yes, Im certain a blog post at the Wisconsin Democratic Party site involving Walker is 100% correct and unbiased.
*eyeroll*
Take the fishhook out of your mouth and actually think for yourself.
Yes, think for yourself. This guy was one of his top aides.
@cubanbob
Walker is coy about right-to-work aspirations. You'd think it would be an obvious next step, but I don't think he's ever made a public statement that he supports it. My guess is that he is counting votes among supporters who are in unionized private-sector jobs.
The Political Industrial Complex at work.
Yes, think for yourself. This guy was one of his top aides.
So?
Ive worked with a person that was arrested and sent to jail for distributing child pornography, without anyone else who was working with him having a clue he engaged in such behavior. Doesnt mean we are all of a sudden guilty of the same thing.
But please, feel free to keep grasping at the one remaining straw the Dems have left. The investigation has gone on for over 2 years...whats a few months more?
Hmmm, very interesting
Reeks of desperation.
Hey Allie, did you hear Scott Walker has a secret love child?
Walker is coy about right-to-work aspirations. You'd think it would be an obvious next step, but I don't think he's ever made a public statement that he supports it. My guess is that he is counting votes among supporters who are in unionized private-sector jobs.
He's said he wouldnt support it, but also hasnt said he wouldnt sign it if it did pass, IIRC.
My guess is that Walker will talk about introducing right to work after he wins a second term, as his first (and second) budget continues to strengthen the state financially.
Generally, voters are naive and misinformed. But reelecting someone who is likely to be indicted? I had higher hopes for Wisconsin.
Wrong again, Madame.
This was a huge change and should be thoroughly thrashed out. Both the hullabaloo and the money was justified.
If that bit of fluff were true, most Democrats would yawn and say who cares?
Only 32 more hours of this garbage in Wisconsin. Hardly seems possible that it will finally end after all the wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The protesters/recallers/fleebaggers have always been the worst of the worst in American politics, rejecting the will of the voters at every turn, and now once and for all they're going to be told to sit down and shut up by the productive taxpayers of the State. Schadenfreud doesn't begin to describe my joy at watching them defeated.
Generally, voters are naive and misinformed.
No shit. Its the reason we have literally the most idiotic President of the United States in office right now.
Fascinating that a political weasel will flip on his former boss. Political criminals flip much quicker than just run of the mill weasel criminals.
"But reelecting someone who is likely to be indicted?"
Gee, too bad you've already blown your one recall opportunity over a policy disagrrement.
"If that bit of fluff were true, most Democrats would yawn and say who cares?"
I got news for you. It was the Democrats who cooked it up.
educater,
I don't understand the Beria reference.
When i lived in WA back in the '00s the Reps would often win final vote tallies for state offices but by narrow margins. Then the recounts and lawsuits would start and continue until the Dems won. For example: Uncounted ballot boxes would be miraculously found in election workers trunks, or left anonymously at fire stations, and few other amazing oddities that always seemed to boost the Dem candidate and eventually the Dem would win. WA lost an incumbent R senator (Gorton) and two gov races this way. Coleman lost this way in MN. You guys may think this will all be over after Tuesday but are likely quite wrong unless the margins for Walker are big. All that hooey about "WI's clean governance tradition" and "Minnesota nice" is merely sucker bait. We'll see how nice things are when ballots are counted.
OM, yawn. As if Republicans wouldn't have jumped on such a "revelation" on Barrett. Who cares?
David said...
"I am sensing premature celebration by the Walkerites. Hope my senses are wrong."
I think what you might be sensing isn't celebration of winning the election as much as a sense of elation that we will very soon get to enjoy our very own protest/sing-a-long/occupation". Of the ballot box!
Mic check! WE ARE THE 51%!!!
(and if by some unpredictable chance we are not the 51%, well, at least THIS chapter, after 15 long tedious months, will be closed.
LincolnTf said...
Only 32 more hours of this garbage in Wisconsin. Hardly seems possible that it will finally end after all the wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The protesters/recallers/fleebaggers have always been the worst of the worst in American politics, rejecting the will of the voters at every turn, and now once and for all they're going to be told to sit down and shut up by the productive taxpayers of the State. Schadenfreud doesn't begin to describe my joy at watching them defeated.
It will not end.
Just a short interlude. If they lose, it's back to the barricades tomorrow.
When i lived in WA back in the '00s the Reps would often win final vote tallies for state offices but by narrow margins. Then the recounts and lawsuits would start and continue until the Dems won. For example: Uncounted ballot boxes would be miraculously found in election workers trunks, or left anonymously at fire stations, and few other amazing oddities that always seemed to boost the Dem candidate and eventually the Dem would win.
It did make one wonder why the hell Dems were allowed the count votes at all since they always seemed to miscount them by nice margins.
So did you hear about the Brewer game yesterday? Apparently the camera for the big screen was panning the audience and rested upon a particular man who then held up a "Barrett for MVP" sign.
Loud boos were heard throughout the stadium. To which the man quickly lowered the sign! Callers into Sykes, who were there, said it was overwhelming.
Allie, You are correct about one thing. Hard core Republicans would react just the same as hard core Dems are. We "normal" folks just don't want to see either one of those mope faces on our tv screen anymore. How about some Chrisitie Brinkley and JLo ads instead.
Mel, do you know which inning it was?
KenK there was also Thune's first senate race where the Indians stole it with late ballot boxes coming in from the reservations.
Folks in Wisconsin ought to be relentless in forcing the Democrat establishment to disown the recalls and the recall organizers. Or, failing that, to embrace the recalls as theirs. Starting the day after the election with Barrett.
Triangle Man said...
@cubanbob
Walker is coy about right-to-work aspirations. You'd think it would be an obvious next step, but I don't think he's ever made a public statement that he supports it. My guess is that he is counting votes among supporters who are in unionized private-sector jobs.
6/4/12 12:06 PM
You might be right about that. Or jason might be right about that. Time will tell. On the other hand, Walker and and a lot of governors might be secretly praying a president Romney and a republican congress might to the heavy lifting for them including serious restrictions on public employee unions. Especially if the SCOTUS rules on a more expansive view of the commerce clause and the next president and congress happen to be republican. The left may well rue the day they hoped for a more expansive view of the commerce clause.
I for one the court strikes the ACA down but who knows what they will rule but we will know at the end of the month.
AllieOop said...
Hmmm, very interesting
I love that you're linking to Democratic party news releases for your "facts"
Note: you have no clue who this person is, if the hearing actually took place, what they said, etc.
Jay, there was a hearing today and the person was Walker's top aide, sheesh, don't be lazy, go look it up.
Allie - that's pretty damaging stuff on the eve of a recall. Talk about great timing for your side. You must be elated.
"Bullshit. At most it's created a few dozen temporary jobs. "
If we say "a few dozen" = 3 dozen (36), then that's 3 million per part time job! I must be spread out a lot thinner than that. If not, then damn, where do I apply?
Are you looking forward to the Barrett recall Oop?
Tim Russell hearing today
I'm sure more news will come out today on what was revealed by Russell at that hearing.
llieOop said...
Jay, there was a hearing today and the person was Walker's top aide
How does one earn the designation "top aide" exactly?
OH, that is something Democrats say when they think something is politically damaging.
Never mind.
Tank, I suppose they won't ever go away for good, but this will hopefully make it harder for the Union thugs to get the mobs all stirred up next time they want something. Defeat, especially a humiliatinmg defeat like the Unions will suffer, makes it that much harder to recruit scumbags to occupy buildings and shout down children. No one wants to be known as a loser.
All I know is that my vote for Walker in 2010 is being threatened by the recall when the Governor never committed a crime but enacted - with a majority - policy changes that the losing side did not like.
There were so many policy actions from 8 years of Governor Doyle that I did not like - state furloughs being a big one!
If this goes to a recount and lawsuits, I think I might just start getting really mad!
Tank said:
It will not end.
Just a short interlude. If they lose, it's back to the barricades tomorrow
I agree. Welcome to the new normal, people.
"This game's not over until we win." - Russ Feingold
Russell lawyer acknowledges releasing documents suggesting Walker administration wasn't cooperating with investigators
I've been in WV for a family wedding in WV the past few days, and as one might expect, there were people in town from all over the place, including the West, the Midwest, the fringe South, and up and down the East Coast. It's been amazing to me how often Wisconsin has come up, and specifically in the context of the recall. It really does seem as if it's functioning as an emblem of something larger, more diffuse. Quite remarkable, when one thinks about it. And no one was even from Wisconsin!!
Just, wow.
leslyn said...
Tank's avatar is violent, vicious, completely inappropriate...and ugly.
But it would be funny as hell if it were the other way around. Right?
Quick. How many people has Socialism in all its variations killed in the last century?
Rule #1 of Fight Club:
Don't listen to anything from Mike McCabe.
It seems like only yesterday we were all supposed to become unhinged over Scott Walker's love child.
Wait--it was yesterday. And it was a different Scott Walker.
Today's squirrel is chasing "Top...Men" in the Walker Administration.
No, not the Governor Scott Walker Administration. It's that other Walker Adminstration, back when he was County Executive.
After only a couple of years, prosecutors got their prime suspect to say that his ex-boss is a Very Bad Man.
Keep it up, Allie. This is some funny shit.
"Tank's avatar is violent, vicious, completely inappropriate...and ugly."
Perhaps, but it's just evil for the one holding the gun to think so.
"How does one earn the designation "top aide" exactly?"
Walker hired or promoted Tim Russell 8 times. And it turns out he is Dan Bice's leaker. Sounds like Russell and Walker had a little falling out!
He who laughs last Chip....
I think I could cut off nine of my 10 fingers and still be able to count the number of people swayed by this whole John Doe thing.
People only get pissed off about that stuff if they:
a) don't like the guy anyway
b) think he made the economy suck.
Otherwise, no body cares about ticky tack political gotcha stuff.
Allie needs to be asking Tom Barrett why the hell he doesn't stand for anything.
Meade I do not!
Republicans don't care if their Governor is facing a Federal indictment, go figure.
Walker facing federal indictment
FFS - there's so much shit flying around Walker, how can you not think he's utterly corrupt?
Allie, It's not premature to laugh at your desperation.
Can't you see how your side looks when--having bitched and whined for over a year about Walker's reforms and how much they went against the wishes of True Wisconsinites™--all it wants to do in the final stages of this installment of the Perpetual Campaign is to gin up phony scandals?
It's pathetic and laughable in equal measure.
So I'm laughing.
Isn't it perfectly valid to recall a governor facing indictment for criminal activities? Walker is a criminal!
Russell lawyer acknowledges releasing documents suggesting Walker administration wasn't cooperating with investigators.
Suggesting is not the same as admitting, Allie, though I can see where those three-syllable words might trip you up.
As far as cooperating with investigators goes, I must have missed all of your calls to Holder to stop stonewalling Issa over Fast & Furious, right?
Oh, but that's just a bunch of dead Mexicans. And Republicans are mean old racists anyway. And BUSH!
Chip - go read the link. Stolen veterans funds, embezzlement, fraud. If Walker was a (D), you'd be screaming bloody murder!
Gee, Allie, Republicans are still reeling over the news of Walker's love child. They can only digest so much at a time.
Republicans don't care if their Governor is facing a Federal indictment, go figure.
Can't speak for everyone, but I don't care anymore. Honest people go into politics and get their lives dragged out into the open. So all we have left are people who may have some baggage. And after Clinton, William Jefferson, Rod Blagoyevich (sp?), etc., and dems don't care, why should repubs?
Or do you dems hold repubs to a higher standard? And why?
Republicans don't care if their Governor is facing a Federal indictment, go figure.
Democrats don't care if their President is lying under oath to a Federal grand jury, go figure.
FIFY
DKWalser said...
$110 million in advertising? I assume that is a dramatic increase over what would have been spent without the recalls. If so, there would seem to be an incentive for the media to do all it can to intensify political controversy.
Also, it's possible that the extra spending on political advertising helped to stimulate the local economy. Wouldn't it be ironic if that spending helped fuel the job growth that ensured Walker's re-election?
I'd wager that a high percentage of that money went for radion and TV advertising. While that sounds like a boon for broadcasters, are they actually selling more commercials overall? There's a limit to how many ads you can run in an hour. Selling ads to politicial campaigns means they aren't available for commercial interests. In that case, it might actually slow the economy rather than boost it.
Also, IIRC, politicians have pushed for broadcasters to give political campaigns "special" low rates as part of their FCC license renewals. If that's correct, then broadcasters might actually be making less money than if they were selling ads to commercial companies.
$110 million in advertising? I assume that is a dramatic increase over what would have been spent without the recalls. If so, there would seem to be an incentive for the media to do all it can to intensify political controversy.
Wouldn't it be a hoot if the Koch brothers own media outlets in and near the state?
@Alex--I have been so foolish as to waste my time reading your link as well as Allies' links. I can only conclude that when you go off your meds you lose all reading comprehension.
As I said the other day in another thread, the one truly enduring "Wisconsin Idea" appears to be McCarthyism.
Pathetic.
Isn't it fascinating that 100% of all criminal investigations of WI politicians are against Republicans? That must mean Democrats are 100% squeaky clean and above reproach.
Right Allie?
I'd wager that a high percentage of that money went for radion and TV advertising.
SHIT! Where does one get a radion receiver? Does it have been resolution than my 1080p Sony? Can it make julienned fries?
Chip - I'm just searching for the truth, wherever it leads me. I have no bias for or against Republicans. If Walker is a criminal, so be it. Recall him, indict him, frog march him away.
Let's take the Walker situation (and likewise the McCain affair, the Bachmann allegations and the Palin accusations -- all three of which turned out to be false). How often is there a months long whisper campaign against a Democrat? The closest I can think of is the birther nonsense.
Weinergate? A few days of brutal, crushing obviousness.
Watergate (Or White Water? I forget)? Maybe?
John Edwards? Spitzer? It just seems that the intense scrutiny of Democrats isn't as common, at least, to the point where it floats to the top for public consumption. Which is why you rarely see Republicans latching on to crazy theories. When they do, it is over things like Weiner, Spitzer and Edwards -- and they turn out to have been right.
When Democrats latch on to things like Bachmann, they have to shame facedly admit in a few days when the IRS says: "No investigation pending" that they were tricked.
Ms. Oop,
I hope you take a moment to realize that Tim Russell does have a significant motivation to lie in this situation. That doesn't mean he is lying, of course.
But this "revelation" detailed in the article is that in Tim Russell's opinion, Walker was stonewalling. The proof is Russell claiming some specific subset the information in the investigation came from him.
There is no way Russell can prove he was the sole source, I don't think. There is no reason Walker couldn't have provided the same information Russell did.
There is nothing that says the information is proof or even appearance of a crime.
And the article you linked couldn't even determine whether Walker hired Russell or just promoted him after hiring.
That article was merely a collection of opinions and unsupported assertions placed in close proximity to Walker's name so that really stupid or gullible people would associate Walker with the assertions.
Confirmation bias strikes again.
I have no bias for or against Republicans.
I can vouch for Alex on this.
@leslyn, One thing we know Chen Guangcheng disapproves of is communism.
So by the transitivity property he disapproves of you.
An in general about recalls: there shouldn't be any UNLESS someone is CONVICTED of a crime. Recalls because you want a do-over should not happen.
Even if there may be a kernel of truth to Walker's hands being in this John Doe investigation, he shouldn't be recalled unless it's proved he did something illegal.
Alex - don't get your panties in a bunch just yet. You're so quick to be fair about this, you're being unfair. Nothing is proved.
Here ya go
Want more?
AllieOop: OM, yawn. As if Republicans wouldn't have jumped on such a "revelation" on Barrett. Who cares?
...and she goes right to the Tu Quoque.
Did I not call it yesterday? What did I win? I should hit the track.
Politico:
Shell-shocked Wisconsin readies for recall
FoxNews:
No voter fatigue in Wisconsin as Republicans, Democrats continue to spend money, resources
Good thing we have so many choices.
OK, I give up, Allie. I have no idea what important new facts you think you're linking to, and I really don't care.
But you know what will be hilarious? If it turns out Scott Walker really is some criminal mastermind and your stupid hissy fit of a recall election keeps him from actually being removed from office.
But please, don't let me interfere with your desperate McCarthyite tactics.
X said...
"I have no bias for or against Republicans.
I can vouch for Alex on this."
Haha, seriously? Alex pretends he is not a lefty by making generic general criticisms of the left while psycho criticisms of specific GOP candidates. It is amazing that he fools anyone.
"Republicans don't care if their Governor is facing a Federal indictment, go figure"
Of course you do know that IF such things actually came out the way you HOPE they might, that Walker cannot be recalled again once he wins tomorrow.
Of course your side won't see their role in how that happened.
Here ya go. Want more?
Ah, the ever-popular "guilt by association." Damning evidence when used against a Republican (ZOMG! Scott Walker's man steals from vets! Walker steals from vets, too!), an underhanded distraction when used against a Democrat (Obama never even heard of Bill Ayers, you racist!).
I hope Walker wins by a huge margin. I don't know which reaction I'll look forward to more from you - the foam-flecked rage, the catty sniping or the Emily Litella "never mind."
Chip, I'm not linking this stuff for YOU. Read it or not, whatever floats your boat.
Steve, I hadn't noticed the general vs. specific. I'll watch for it. I just notice he flips sides depending on the day of the week to troll people.
Allie - go bake a pie or some cookies.
I hope Walker wins by a huge margin. I don't know which reaction I'll look forward to more from you - the foam-flecked rage, the catty sniping or the Emily Litella "never mind."
Whatever happens, you're still gonna be stuck in Mass. :)
Just another paradise-like day here in Wisconsin. Beautiful blue skies, sun, no humidity, no bugs.
Aaaahhhh. My one regret is that I'm at work and I can't be out paddleboarding.
When do we get to analyze Scott Walker's religious beliefs? Time's getting short people.
Newsweek, too.
The MSM hate short people.
There have been more people named, indicted, convicted, or granted immunity in the John Doe case surrounding Walker than fraudulent votes cast in 2008. Not a Republican slogan you'll hear!
Seriouly; is there anyone here who's been persuaded or convinced by Allie Oops?
No thanks Alex, I'll go for a nice walk around my lake, it IS a beautiful dayIn Wisconsin, in many ways.
Allie, your latest is ancient "news".
Walker facing federal indictment
Didn't alternet also claim Rove was going to be frog marched out of the WH in handcuffs?
I'll be impressed if anything actually happens.
Want more?
A remotely reputable source? How about that?
Republicans don't care if their Governor is facing a Federal indictment, go figure.
Democrats don't care that their President refuses to fire an AG who had hundreds of Mexicans and a US border agent killed in order to attack the 2nd Amendment.
Go figure.
Democrats don't care that their President fires IG's who dare to question his friends.
Go figure.
...do you really want to try and play this game?
Bailey says (s)he knows how many fraudulent votes were cast in 2008.
I wonder how.
Time's getting short people.
Time comes for us all, in the end.
AllieOop said...
Republicans don't care if their Governor is facing a Federal indictment, go figure.
Democrats didn't care when their President had a legal defense fund, perjured himself, and was disbarred.
Go figure.
Allie, are you upset about Barrett's wife misusing government email? How about Barrett personally endorsing a man for Milwaukee comptroller who had previously been arrested for accepting bribes?
I think we need a multi-year open ended, not-so-secret John Doe investigation into the Barrett administration. Preferably headed by a Republican DA. Just imagine the goodies that we might find. After all, how else can we be sure about Barrett's integrity?
No thanks Alex, I'll go for a nice walk around my lake, it IS a beautiful dayIn Wisconsin, in many ways.
Indeed. It looks like Walker is going to survive this political lynching and be the governor WI needs longer.
There have been more people named, indicted, convicted, or granted immunity in the John Doe case surrounding Walker than fraudulent votes cast in 2008. Not a Republican slogan you'll hear!
Obama's administration killed more Mexicans than they claim fraudulent votes were cast nationally, in spite of virulently fighting any means of verifying identity in the first place.
Obama 2012!
leslyn said...
Tank's avatar is violent, vicious, completely inappropriate...and ugly.
And you're butt hurt the avi reflects the truth.
Democrats didn't care when their President had a legal defense fund, perjured himself, and was disbarred.
Didn't care?
Heck, they claimed it was a coup d'etat to do anything and lionized him.
They went way above not caring.
X,
What is particularly funny about Alex is that he has no memory of what he says. One day he will make a long string of insane horrible accusations about Mitt and a few days later he will say he is totally supporting Mitt while at the same time criticizing Mitt's wife.
The simplest explanation is that he is a lefty pretending not to be a lefty but lacks the wit (and memory) to pull it off.
One thing I do know about Tom Barrett is that one of the highest-ranking officials in his administration was directly responsible for an agency that deprived a citizen of his First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and assembly.
Surely there's a civil rights probe underway even as I type this.
Do Democrats care that their candidate is likely to be called as a witness in a federal investigation?
The best part of this debacle is that the Democrats/Unions had to pay for their own defeat. All of those Union dues flushed down the crapper and all it did was bolster the Tea Party, help Romney's chances in WI and cause huge rifts among Democrats. Thank you, thank you, thank you, WI Unions, we couldn't have won if you hadn't started the fight.
"AllieOop said...
Jay, there was a hearing today and the person was Walker's top aide, sheesh, don't be lazy, go look it up."
Yes, the top aide's title always has "deputy" as part of it. You are a moron.
"AllieOop said...
Russell lawyer acknowledges releasing documents suggesting Walker administration wasn't cooperating with investigators."
Yep there is nothing more iron clad than evidence that in an adversarial lawyer's opinion suggests you had behavior that would indicate you may have done something illegal! You are a moron.
"AllieOop said...
Republicans don't care if their Governor is facing a Federal indictment, go figure." Of course Walker is not facing anything. Let's add liar to your list of attributes.
@Lincoln: Walker won? I slept through the 5th? Damn! I missed the transit of Venus.
I'm counting it as a "win" prematurely, I know, but the thought of a loss is unbearable so I'm just going with it. Walker will win.
Lincoln, do you even live in Wisconsin? If not, you are waaaay too heavily invested in what goes on in this lovely little state.
I'm trying to figure out what the "stealing $10,000s from military vets and families" actually is.
The link only takes you to a document that transfers control/responsibility of Operation Freedom from a govt Executive Council to a historic preservation society.
So what's Operation Freedom, you ask?
A big party w/ free admission to the zoo for military and military families.
I don't see how transferring control of something that continues to occur is theft.
And even if it was discontinued (which I can't find any indication it was), that would be a cancellation of a benefit, not the theft of an entitlement/right.
Any embezzlement of the fund afterward is 100% on Russell, 0% on Walker.
And at this point, I can't even see where the funds came from. I doubt it was from contributions from military, and I guess it was probably from taxpayers.
And yet, no Operation Freedom activities were cancelled...the whole thing didn't affect military or their families at all.
So to the best I can understand, Democrats are complaining because in one single case, Russell used taxpayer money the way Democrats/liberals always do.
No MadisonMan, I don't live in Wisconsin. Neither do Lerner, Hoffa or the rest of the crew that instigated this brouhaha. If you haven't noticed yet, this has major national implications, and I do live in the nation. Shinebox, fetch it, and never speak of non-Wisconsin politics again.
"Ive worked with a person that was arrested and sent to jail for distributing child pornography, without anyone else who was working with him having a clue he engaged in such behavior."
Your Honor, I swear I didn't know she was 3.
...apropos of nothing, really, but I think this stuff has all been done to death by now. Stay classy Wisconsin!
The Elephant in Scott Walker's Courtroom
this has major national implications
Because nothing else it going on right now. Pundits have to talk about something, or write about something, and the Republican/Democratic nominations are all wrapped up.
So the punditocracy says do let's all talk about Wisconsin because there's nothing else to talk about. And silence -- or no column inches -- is deadly to my checkbook.
Meanwhile, what to we hear about Holder's DOJ, or Fast/Furious.....
Completely off-topic (sorry!), but I love numbers and coincidences, so a story like this is too good not to pass along. Or something.
On JSonline, "A liberal watchdog group has filed a complaint with the FCC alleging media bias against WTMJ and WISN radio hosts, Mark Belling, Vicky McKenna, Jay Weber, Charlie Sykes and Jeffrey Wagner." Can you believe this "crap"?
What Mad Man said: from the media standpoint, its all about keeping stories coming, now that the republican race is over. What are pundits supposed to talk about thee days? Yeah, and fast and furious would be a good start.
really MadMan? you don't think other state governments, especially those with with pubsec unions and rotten balance sheets aren't watching this thing closely? no national implications other than filling space during Cannibal Summer? I think they see a blueprint.
herewith, my fearless prediction about tomorrows bratfest in Wisconsin: Walker wins by 8, dems will scream voter fraud and try to take the result to court, and hilarity will ensue--not to mention schadenfreude which is already in the air.
I do sympathize with the good citizens of Wisconsin, but on the other hand they continue to elect their political "leadership." Karma is a bitch.
"AllieOop said...
The Elephant in Scott Walker's Courtroom"
We can classify this as when liars read and link other liars:
From the lying idiots link this:
"...when Daniel Bice, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter who's been an absolute bulldog on this investigation, published a damaging piece in which Bice said that, contrary to Walker's repeated insistence that he had called for the John Doe investigation himself, the investigators on the case opened the investigation themselves after two years of stonewalling by Walker and his administration. Bice's story was based on a document filed with the court in the Russell case.
Sadly, this is bullshit. Herei swhat Bice's piece said:
"Document suggests Walker stalled inquiry"
"By making it a secret John Doe investigation, Landgraf wrote that prosecutors might get better cooperation from Walker's office, which had been "unwilling or unable" to turn over records and information needed in the investigation.
So despite what Allie's first link say, Bice never made a conclusive statement that Walker has stonewalled the investigation.
Walker is on record saying they went to the DA because they couldn't get the information on their own...i.e. "unable". Considering their was a crime committed that's hardly unusual. And the DA in charge confirmed this.
There is nothing new in any of this...it's just a rehash of old news to make it look new.
Alllie, you are an idiot. Painfully dumb.
This veteran is very emotionally overcome by the sudden concern that activist Democrats have for us veterans. I am sure this sudden concern for our welfare is not in anyway politically motivated. I look forward to your support after June 5th with other veteran's issues.
The "media standpoint" doesn't matter a whit. This is the most important election of the year before November. If people find it impossible to walk and chew gum at the same time, I invite them to pore over the long stale F&F inquiry for the umpteenth time. To be productive or something.
Wisconsinites are being tortured with this 24/7 political assault because for socialists this is really Custer's Last Stand. Break the closed money loop of forced government union dues to Dems to budget busting government union contracts to tax hikes to Joe Public to pay for it all and you've broken the socialist life support system.
This is the most important election of the year before November.
I can agree with this, I guess. (Are there any other elections before November? It's kinda a low bar!)
Why was Walker & GOP legislative majority elected in the first place? Because ordinary Wisconsinites are scared about the mounting debt levels and wanted to do something about it NOW.
The Elephant In Scott Walker's Courtroom
Still throwing shit against the wall, hoping that some of it - ANY of it - sticks, Allie? Lord, you are a funny girl. I do note that, like our typical gang of lefties (who seem to have deserted us, for some reason), you throw out a smear and then never answer it once you get slapped down. So far, I've seen you whine about "suggested," "revelations," "top aides" and "indictment," yet when your obvious hypocrisy is pointed out. . .well, off you go, swanning along to find another bit of nonsense to post.
Oh, Wednesday will be so sweet if Walker wins. I do look forward to your explanation as to why you didn't post that day, Allie. Try the Debbie Wasserman-Test excuse:
I was too busy taking a walk in the sunshine to care about politics. And this was just a local election. It doesn't matter anyway. Those grapes are sour.
Lincoln, do you even live in Wisconsin? If not, you are waaaay too heavily invested in what goes on in this lovely little state.
Wisconsin is like the canary in the coal mine. We are all interested and fascinated in a car wreck on the side of the road manner too.
BREAKING!
Dan Rather has the dirt on Walker! Special CBS coverage tonight. Rather has a memo from an unimpeachable source.
Fen: tell me the source wasnt Lucy Ramirez
Are there any other elections before November?
Don't you have one every week up there in Wisconsin?
My prediction about the outcomes of the John Doe:
A) Walker loses: DA takes case to trial. It's a pretty weak case on some minor infraction that has been trumped up. With legal wrangling it takes about 4-5 years to come to a settlement (probably negotiated to a small fine or something because of prosecutor/defendant fatigue), at which time it will become an obscure footnote to this period in time.
B) Walker wins: DA concludes that it is "inconclusive". "Some evidence that crime was committed, but does not rise to the level that would yield a conviction". Under this scenario, DA saves face (Don't shoot the King if you can't aim to kill him). Fringe left gets something that they can hash & rehash (think Prosser/Kloppenberg, Bush/Gore, Waukesha County Election Clerk, etc.). And that could be a benefit to the Democrats goiong forward - if the fringe contingent has something to distract them, maybe they won't muck things up for the mainstream Dems like they have for the last year.
FWIW, an outfit called We Ask America did a poll of 1500+ likely voters yesterday and has Walker up by (are you ready?) 12 - 56/44. MOE 2.5.
Anybody know anything about these people, how accurate they are?
Edutcher--the cynic in me suggests that any late breaking polls are probaby more designed to try to influence an election than identify voter sentiment--whatever the case, the final poll is tomorrow: walker by 8--you heard it here first :)
"Alllie, you are an idiot. Painfully dumb."
Perhaps she merely aspires to be useful.
Intrade is at 92.1 today.
Number of days since last Garage sighting: 20
Unable to make a fiscal argument, the Left has been reduced to sinister 11th-hour conspiracies.
@MadMan: Because nothing else is going on right now. Pundits have to talk about something, or write about something, and the Republican/Democratic nominations are all wrapped up.
That's not the reason for all the interest. It has national implications because it's a GOP governor of a "blue state" who is directly challenging the unions. Further, it's one of a handful of swing states that could potentially decide a Presidential election.
The Democrats sure believed it was important, didn't they?
I'm kind of surprised you guys are falling for Allie's tactic.
In the time it takes you to reply to the first half-baked accusation she can (and does) make two or three more. It is a trolling technique as old as the hills.
A bit off topic, but I do miss Garage--hope he is OK--now I suspect he is probably off fishing somewhere, but still I do worry a bit.
Allie's not dumb. She's just wrong. You can be smart and wrong--happens all the time.
I'm hoping Garage is in Paris, enjoying the socialist revival. How about some proof of life, Garage?
You can be smart and wrong--happens all the time.
But you cannot be smart, well-informed, and wrong.
Stimulus
Will we have to dip our fingers in purple dye after we vote?
DOJ to monitor Wisconsin recall election
As reported in a previous Water Cooler post Obama Campaign strategist David Axelrod told reporters on Sunday that an "army of lawyers" will be in the Badger state "to protect" the vote during the recall election.
DOJ Press Release - Justice Department to Monitor Elections in California, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wisconsin
Roger, the only reason I mentioned it (as I say, I have no idea who these people are) was that HotAir had an item on it and made something of a deal about it.
12 seems to be way out of the range most polls are finding unless Ann's right and people in WI are just fed up and want to put an end to it.
13 people granted immunity. 15 felony indictments. 2 convictions. I think his entire county executive staff has been either charged, granted immunity, or been named in the complaints. Walker has a defense fund, for which to be compliant he MUST be under investigation, or being charged with a crime. He has already spent over 200k.
I'm sure it's all nothing!
Roger J. said...
A bit off topic, but I do miss Garage--hope he is OK--now I suspect he is probably off fishing somewhere, but still I do worry a bit.
Garage is tweeting up a storm, stirring the anti-Walker pot. I will tweet him your regards. Thing is, he has more of an echo-chamber over there. Blake and I are about the only followers he has who challenge him.
Holder's got this thing covered, no worries: http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/jun/4/picket-doj-monitor-wisconsin-recall-election-tuesd/
Uh oh. Allie, looks like Obama is a Communist: http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/castros-daughter-endorses-obama_646493.html
...'cause, guilt by association and whatnot.
Chicklit: actually garage and I personal friends--I have sent him memphis BBQ and he has sent me cheese and brats--dont agree with his politics, but he and I have managed to find some common ground. He's a good dude.
edutcher said...
FWIW, an outfit called We Ask America
Latest on the Polls and a mention of We Ask America poll.
Garage is tweeting up a storm, stirring the anti-Walker pot.
He's on twitter???
Chip S. said...
But you cannot be smart, well-informed, and wrong.
I think garage and Allie might just be personally invested in WI State employee unions. Their loyality can't be based on rational thought.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker faces his recall election tomorrow, and WisconsinReporter.com's Eric Boehm writes that unions from all over the country are finding their inner Yon Yonsons. Although the leading anti-walker PAC calls itself "We Are Wisconsin," Boehm breaks down the in-kind contributions to discover that the Ohio Education Association made a $58,000 in-kind contribution May 30, followed a day later by a $21,000 contribution from the Pennsylvania State Education Association. New York State United Teachers gave $23,000 on June 1, the Massachusetts Education Association gave $17,000 on May 31, and a group of unions based in Washington, D.C., poured in $922,000 during the past week, according to the reports. Money even came from as far away as Alaska, with the National Education Association’s local union there chipping in $4,000
nope, no national implications.
Thanks, Jay.
Apparently they're an outlier. That's what I was wondering.
As for Ally, I agree--don't be too hard on her. After all she's spent most of her waking hours in a locked mental ward.
in-kind contributions
Is that something in lieu of cash contributions? I ask, because somewhere (maybe the 2nd debate) it was noted that a significant amount of non-cash support (i.e, GOTV volunteers, etc.) has come from out of state, but does not have to be reported as a political contribution according to campaign finance laws. So the ratio of in-state/out-of-state inputs might be mistated because non-cash support is not factored in.
Allie OOP that is, sorry
Dust Bunny Queen said...
Wisconsin is like the canary in the coal mine.
Not even close. Go one state south for a better example of said canary.
Or go way out West for an example of the Norwegian Blue (lovely plumage!)
We are all interested and fascinated in a car wreck on the side of the road manner too.
Yeah, there's that, too. We're a macabre species.
Too much politics. It's really unfair to normal people.
Too much politics, yet you're constantly blogging about it? Uhhmmm...ok. :D
Walker is coy about right-to-work aspirations. You'd think it would be an obvious next step, but I don't think he's ever made a public statement that he supports it.
He co-sponsored a "Right to Work" bill when he was still a legislator. When running for Governor the first time, one of his biggest supporters asked him about making Wisconsin a "Right to Work" state. Walker told her that he can do that but he needs to "divide and conquer" the people of Wisconsin first, and that busting the public sector unions is the first step towards that goal.
"purplepenquin said...
Walker told her that he can do that but he needs to "divide and conquer" the people of Wisconsin first, and that busting the public sector unions is the first step towards that goal."
Another falsehood.
"He's a good dude."
YMMV.
We Ask America
Shouldn't they be asking Wisconsin?
Another falsehood.
Well, gee...it is kinda hard to argue against such a well-thought out response like that!
*rolls eyes*
This video shows that he was answering a question about how to get Right to Work laws passed in Wisconsin, and that "Divide and Conquer" is an exact quote from his response.
Don't get cocky Walker supporters. The Feds will be there tomorrow to make sure all the schoolteachers from Illinois and Iowa and Minnesota get to vote. Keep your video phones handy.
This video shows that he was answering a question about how to get Right to Work laws passed in Wisconsin, and that "Divide and Conquer" is an exact quote from his response.
Which means that your original claim that he planned to "divide and conquer the people of Wisconsin" was false. :)
Which means that your original claim that he planned to "divide and conquer the people of Wisconsin" was false. :)
Oh, I get it now.
Just 'cause Walker said he wanted to divide and conquer a lot of workers in Wisconsin doesn't mean he wanted to divide and conquer people of Wisconsin.
'cause workers ain't people, eh?
*sigh*
Doesn't surprise me if that is what CurioGeo is claiming...after all, he used to post videos of union workers dying on the job just so he could laugh about it. Given his hate-filled attitude, it totally makes sense that he doesn't look at me...or any union members...as a fellow human being.
Then again, maybe he hadn't actually seen the video clip nor heard anything about it. It is hard to say when he refuses to state exactly what he is objecting to in the statement.
I reckon we'll find out which it is when/if he responds.
Just 'cause Walker said he wanted to divide and conquer a lot of workers in Wisconsin doesn't mean he wanted to divide and conquer people of Wisconsin.
Your belief that "opponents of the right to work" and "the people of Wisconsin" are synonymous does not reflect reality. :)
Ah that Curious George, he's a Prince among monkeys.
Your belief that "opponents of the right to work" and "the people of Wisconsin" are synonymous does not reflect reality. :)
Does the smiley face mean that you don't beleive this yourself, but rather you're jokingly trying to conjure up what CurioGeo is gonna say when/if he responds?
'cause this is really some twisted wordplay you're getting into...exactly the sort of thing I've come to expect from him.
And Allie, you owe a huge apology to the Man-Formally-Known-As-A-Symbol.
I shouldn't have capitalized prince:)
Yeah why is Revenent giving you smiley faces, he never gives me any.
Bleh.. it's painful reading people calling AllieOop names. Jesus people, be better than that. Every time one of you lowers yourself to that kind of nonsense, this place starts to resemble the moveon or dailykos forums where that kind of nonsense is what passes for intellectualism.
That being said, Allie, I don't think you're stupid. I DO however think you're lazy and either don't know much about the issues or don't have much conviction in your positions. From what I've seen, the vast majority of your posts consist of one line, often with a link to a far from objective political site.
What do you believe in? What's Walker done that that you disagree with and why? Your profile says you're a semi-retired nurse so I assume that means you're a union employee and have some skin in the game with the union reforms. If that's the case, make a compelling argument that public sector unions continue to deserve the riches they've received in the past.
CONTRIBUTE something.
Finchy, recheck my links, the only partisan link I posted was from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, oh and maybe the Veterans link. Horrors! Democratic Veterans!
And Finchy, I'm immune to anything the poo throwing monkeys here have to say, it really doesn't affect me the way they want it to, because I KNOW BETTER, what I am capable of.
Perhaps you need to learn to recognize truth when you see it.
Does the smiley face mean that you don't beleive this yourself
It means that you amuse me. :)
Great article, as always, from John Fund, "If Walker wins, what are the lessons",
http://www.nationalreview.com/blogs/print/301674
Read the well researched article but some key points and quotes:
* it is very likely Walker will win
* the left will blame Obama some for Walker's victory
* the recall process has helped put Wisconsin in play in the prez election
* voters see Walker's reforms as working, Walker solved the budget crisis without raising taxes or cutting services, Wisconsin's business climate has improved tremendously.
Great quote:
"Walker victory will expose for all to see the dirty little secret of the power of public-sector unions in America: It depends on having the government collect union dues from every employee’s paycheck, and turning the dues over to the unions without the employee’s consent. No other private entity in America — no charity, no association, no company — can do that.
Walker’s reforms ended that practice. Workers can now decide if they want to pay union dues. Clearly, the answer is no in many cases.
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees was founded in Madison in 1936, making the state the launching pad for all public-sector-union organizing in the country. But now AFSCME’s Local 24 in Madison, which represented 22,300 Wisconsin state workers last year, has seen its membership shrink by two-thirds, to 7,100. Statewide, AFSCME’s membership has dropped by more than half. Similarly, the American Federation of Teachers has lost 6,000 of its 17,000 members. Small wonder. Teachers’-union dues in Wisconsin range from a hefty $700 a year up to more than $1,000.
Labor historian Fred Siegel says Walker’s changes could provide a model for reshaping American politics. “Ending dues deductions breaks the political cycle in which government collects dues and gives them to the unions, who then use the dues to back their favorite candidates and also lobby for bigger government and more pay and benefits,” he told me."
The reason that dems are completely incapable of arguing persuasively is that their position is indefensible. How is a dem supposed to defend compulsory confiscation of state worker's salary to pay union dues? They can't so the discussion inevitably deteriorates into name calling.
The article also points out the conflict between public union members and private sector unions that can be exploited by the GOP. Read the article.
"If Walker wins, what are the lessons",
Walker's reforms poll in the 70s, but his recall support is only in the 50s. Lesson: roughly 20% of Wisconsinites know his actions are good for Wisconsin but still want him gone because their loyalty to the Democratic Party is greater than their desire to improve economic conditions in their state.
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