Wisconsin Recall Effort Featured on PBS Newshour

A little news from Wisconsin in the nation's news this evening.

Link: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june12/wisconsin_04-30.html

Voter ID Law Blocked from WI Recall Votes

Here's a bit of good news from the divided Northwoods state of Wisconsin...  A federal appeals court has blocked implementation of a Republican bill that will disenfranchise thousands of Wisconsin residents from voting through one of the most restrictive Voter ID policies in the country.  Hopefully the courts will beat this bill down further by the time of the fall general election.

Link: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75681.html

Democrats demand GAB disqualifies fake candidates, accuse them of election fraud

Repost from www.defendwisconsin.org...

Democrats demand GAB disqualifies fake candidates, accuse them of election fraud:
Democrats filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board Thursday demanding that elections officials disqualify a half-dozen Republicans running as Fake Democrats in this spring’s recall primary elections.
The Democrats’ attorney, Jeremy Levinson, filed the complaint alleging that the state GOP has openly acknowledged the candidates aren’t Democrats, but the candidates falsely claimed they were in papers filed with the board and on their nomination papers.
He accused the candidates of committing election fraud. He called for the board to keep them off the ballot and open an investigation.
“The fraudulent candidates and the RPW have explicitly acknowledged that, in fact, these fraudulent primary candidates are part of an effort to manipulate the electoral process in support of Republican incumbents facing recall,” Levinson wrote.
A recent legal opinion indicates that running fake primary candidates may be a felony.
According to the legal opinion, fake Democratic candidates may have committed election fraud—a Class I Felony— for having falsified a declaration of candidacy. By swearing to represent the Democratic party while actually representing the interests of the Republican party, fake candidates could be opening themselves up to fines of as much as $10,000 and 3 ½ years in prison.GAB spokesman Reid Magney said the board would address the complaint during a meeting Tuesday to set the ballots.
Read more at WISN.

Video by WeareWisconsinPACWatch the latest sleazy, underhanded move by the Wisconsin GOP to make a mockery of our democracy and place “Fake Democrat” candidates in the upcoming recall elections.

Blogs Pick up Scott Walker Ciara Matthews Story

Only a beautiful young blonde who is a former Hooter's waitress (no offense to waitresses) would do as Scott Walkers communication's director.  But if all goes well, she'll be leaving Wisconsin soon and heading on to greener pastures.

Link: http://jezebel.com/5901132/meet-the-rising-republican-star-who-would-love-to-punch-hillary-clinton-in-the-face

Why is #AngelaCorey Smiling During Zimmerman's First Court Appearance?

Seriously, I find her attitude to be really unprofessional and inappropriate.  One child is dead and another man is facing 25 years in prison.  Is this a big game to her?

Trayvon Martin Rally at the Wisconsin Capitol

I'm glad to see a few people came out to oppose castle doctrine and other
gun laws which are resulting in increasing 'justifiable homicides' like the
ones that just happened in Florida and Wisconsin.

Scott Walker Bans All Sex Ed Except for Abstinence-Only

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has taken it upon himself to ban all forms of sex ed taught in public schools except for his preferred type:  abstinence only - despite the fact that it is not a best practice in sexual health for teenagers.

Link:  http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/walker-signs-slew-of-controversial-bills/article_94dab5ec-8008-11e1-a873-001a4bcf887a.html

Another State Set to Ban Capital Punishment

As heard on WORT's Mel and Floyd show, Connecticut is set to be the 17th state to ban capital punishment - and is one of 5 states who recently passed legislation to ban the practice or had the practice declared unconstitutional (Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and New Jersey are the other states).

Link:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303302504577326153328983814.html

Waukesha Clerk Kathy Nickolaus Forced to Give Up Supervision of Elections

This story would be funny if it were not so sad.

Link: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/embattled-waukesha-county-clerk-gives-up-vote-count-duties/article_d6835860-7fd0-11e1-af92-001a4bcf887a.html

No Surprise Here: Scott Walker is a 'PK'

During Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's recent interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network from the Governor's Mansion, he talked about his religious faith and disclosed being a 'PK,' or Promise Keeper - a private men's ministry promoting socially conservative behaviors and beliefs.

Link: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/Video-Embeds/2012/April/Walker-Blog-2/?WT.mc_id=EmbedNewsPlayer

Walker on his Recall: "God Help Us... We Can't Fail"

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker giving a rare interview, in this case to the Christian Broadcasting Network, telling viewers that he has trust in God's plan for his reelection in the coming recalls.

Link:  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/Video-Embeds/2012/April/Walker-Blog-1/?WT.mc_id=EmbedNewsPlayer

Madison Protest Cleanup Costs Far Less Than Expected

The protests that were caused by Gov. Scott Walker's sweeping conservative agenda  was estimated by the Governor's office to be over $7 million.  The final number, which includes overtime and other costs for handling several weeks of legal, peaceful demonstrations, was about $200,000.

Link:  http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/capitol-cleanup-cost-about-far-under-prediction/article_76cab23c-7f3b-11e1-8f18-0019bb2963f4.html

Waukesha Clerk Kathy Nikolaus Again Bungles Election Results in Spring Primary

If there's one thing Waukesha is famous for, it's for incompetence and the base of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.  I hope they can get their act together before the recalls hit later this Spring.

Link: http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/more-election-night-problems-in-waukesha-il4sbmm-146106695.html

Support Democrats: Vote for Santorum!

Tomorrow is the Spring Primary in Wisconsin and If you are in one of the states which have Rick Santorum listed as a candidate for the Republican primary election, and it is legal for you to do so in your state, I suggest going out and giving him your vote even if you are a supporter of the Democrats.  Why?  It's simple - he's less likely to be able to win against Obama in the general election.  Furthermore, as a right-wing and socially conservative Republican, he is able to alienate and split Republican-leaning independents off from voting conservative in the next election.  

Firebombing at Grand Chute (Wi) Planned Parenthood Clinic

So this is what things have come to in Wisconsin.  Fortunately no one was hurt and there was minimal damage.

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/planned-parenthood-clinic-in-wisconsin-fire-bombed/2012/04/02/gIQASCXWrS_blog.html