Senate conservatives and Tea Party leaders including Rick Santorum have come out to oppose the U.S. Senate's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Ratification of the convention, which over 100 countries have already done, was backed by the American Association of People with Disabilities, the American Federation for the Blind, and many other groups.
The Senate needed two-thirds, or 67 of its 100 members to vote in favor of the treaty. The final vote was 61-38 - all Republicans.
Link: http://www.slate.com/blogs/spitzer/2012/12/06/senate_votes_down_u_n_disabilities_treaty_why_republicans_won_t_extend_americans.html
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Statehouse groups like Wisconsin Reporter (Twitter @wisconsinreport) hide true motives
A North Dakota nonprofit known as the Franklin Center is getting a lot of recognition for its so-called news 'project' known as Statehouse News Online, a sort of 'news aggregator' for smaller news outlets like the one in Madison, Wisconsin, known simply as Wisconsin Reporter.
A simple Google or Wikipedia search will uncover a number of controversies that Statehouse News operatives has been at the center of mainly regarding misuse of their credentials as members of the press or use of the organization's nonprofit status. U.S. tax law forbids nonprofits from engaging in partisan political work.
One may also find out about this group by visiting the Wisconsin Reporter Twitter page at www.twitter.com/wisconsinreport, or their homepage at www.wisconsinreporter.com. Do not expect to find anything on either page related to the recent prosecutions of Republican Governor Scott Walker's former aides Kelly Rindfleisch or Tim Russell, both of whom are involved in a wide-ranging John Doe investigation. You'd think this would be relevant 'state' news, but it apparently isn't.
A Media Matters expose on the Franklin Center is very telling. Apparently the group is heavily staffed by veterans from conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity and the Tea Party. The expose states, in part:
During the recent election, Wisconsin Reporter was directly arguing with people the organization's 'journalists' believed were liberal. I have a blog and twitter that both include the word liberal and I was called out by the organization several times, among others, in ways that I would say are inappropriate for a news organization, especially one that is supposed to adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Take a look at this exchange:
@JeffSimpson7 @RobertaRetrum @kevinbinversie I'm not sure about sides, but I'm pretty sure what you are full of - Good for fertilizing lies
@wisconsinreport Just to be sure, your group is not a member of any professional associations is it? Some have codes of ethics...
@libagenda Aren't you cute throwing around weighty terms like ethics, terms you seemingly do not understand or rarely seem to apply.
@wisconsinreport Hmmmm.... the Franklin Center's website says you are a member of the SPJ. You could have said so. http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
Or this earlier exchange:
@wisconsinreport Great reporting as always!
@libagenda Why thanks libagenda. Your nonpartisan perspective on political reporting means the world to us.
@wisconsinreport Ironic that you should be mentioning the word nonpartisan.
Here again is an exchange that ocurred during one of the Vice Presidential debates:
@wisconsinreport I almost thought you were a news reporter for a second.
@libagenda Keep the faith impartial Liberal Agenda.
@wisconsinreport I'm an atheist.
@libagenda Keep the dull, dark void of nothingness then, you fun-loving atheist, you.
@wisconsinreport By the way, how is it that you have non-profit status? Seems like you shouldn't be able to engage in partisan activities.
@libagenda Now you have offended me, sir! No, just kidding. I don't offend as easy as some do these days. Know what I mean?
Note that Wisconsin Reporter's comment about Biden interrupting Ryan is ridiculous.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Wisconsin Reporter is a false front media organization. They are not even really trying to hide their support for right-wing candidates.
The 'liberal' Capital Times has taken Wisconsin Reporter and other conservative news organizations to task as well in this recent article. I say 'liberal' because the Cap Times does occasionally take a liberal position - but the point is they can because they're a company. Wisconsin Reporter shouldn't be taking sides because they are a nonprofit. I, on the other hand, am neither - I am just a regular citizen. I can pretty much say whatever I want. I get no money for it, nor any tax breaks for writing on this blog.
I work in the nonprofit sphere and it is one of my pet-peeves that some organizations use the tax status irresponsibly. I do think that these Statehouse News outlets are a great case in point. If they want to masquerade as proper journalists, why not become companies and live off of advertising or whatever other business model they want to. But to pretend to be honest and a real nonprofit is shady and a discredit to both real nonprofits and real journalists.
Links:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/politiscope/conservative-groups-create-own-news-outlets-to-counter-alleged-liberal/article_e5c01972-38cf-11e2-ad6a-0019bb2963f4.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Center_for_Government_and_Public_Integrity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statehouse_News_Online
A simple Google or Wikipedia search will uncover a number of controversies that Statehouse News operatives has been at the center of mainly regarding misuse of their credentials as members of the press or use of the organization's nonprofit status. U.S. tax law forbids nonprofits from engaging in partisan political work.
One may also find out about this group by visiting the Wisconsin Reporter Twitter page at www.twitter.com/wisconsinreport, or their homepage at www.wisconsinreporter.com. Do not expect to find anything on either page related to the recent prosecutions of Republican Governor Scott Walker's former aides Kelly Rindfleisch or Tim Russell, both of whom are involved in a wide-ranging John Doe investigation. You'd think this would be relevant 'state' news, but it apparently isn't.
A Media Matters expose on the Franklin Center is very telling. Apparently the group is heavily staffed by veterans from conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity and the Tea Party. The expose states, in part:
At least three staffers at the organization previously worked for Americans for Prosperity, "the most prominent political group backed by the Koch brothers." Erik Telford, the Franklin Center's vice president of strategic initiatives & outreach, previously served as director of marketing and online strategy for Americans for Prosperity; Mary Ellen Beatty, Franklin Center director of citizen outreach, oversaw communications for Americans for Prosperity's 32 state chapters; and Alicia Barnaby, Coalitions Coordinator, was previously AfP's Development Associate for Corporate Relations. The Franklin Center's director of development, Matt Hauck, has been an associate at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.So why are they getting away with this? I have no idea. It seems odd that they haven't run into problems with tax officials.
During the recent election, Wisconsin Reporter was directly arguing with people the organization's 'journalists' believed were liberal. I have a blog and twitter that both include the word liberal and I was called out by the organization several times, among others, in ways that I would say are inappropriate for a news organization, especially one that is supposed to adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Take a look at this exchange:
Jeff Simpson 
Wisconsin Reporter 
Proud Liberal Or this earlier exchange:
Here again is an exchange that ocurred during one of the Vice Presidential debates:
Note that Wisconsin Reporter's comment about Biden interrupting Ryan is ridiculous.
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Wisconsin Reporter is a false front media organization. They are not even really trying to hide their support for right-wing candidates.
The 'liberal' Capital Times has taken Wisconsin Reporter and other conservative news organizations to task as well in this recent article. I say 'liberal' because the Cap Times does occasionally take a liberal position - but the point is they can because they're a company. Wisconsin Reporter shouldn't be taking sides because they are a nonprofit. I, on the other hand, am neither - I am just a regular citizen. I can pretty much say whatever I want. I get no money for it, nor any tax breaks for writing on this blog.
I work in the nonprofit sphere and it is one of my pet-peeves that some organizations use the tax status irresponsibly. I do think that these Statehouse News outlets are a great case in point. If they want to masquerade as proper journalists, why not become companies and live off of advertising or whatever other business model they want to. But to pretend to be honest and a real nonprofit is shady and a discredit to both real nonprofits and real journalists.
Links:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/07/11/how-a-right-wing-group-is-infiltrating-state-ne/187059
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/politiscope/conservative-groups-create-own-news-outlets-to-counter-alleged-liberal/article_e5c01972-38cf-11e2-ad6a-0019bb2963f4.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Center_for_Government_and_Public_Integrity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statehouse_News_Online
Yep, the ice caps really are melting (Science)
"Higher temperatures over the past two decades have caused the polar ice sheets to melt at an accelerating rate, contributing to an almost half-inch rise in global sea levels, according to the most comprehensive study done so far."
Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323751104578149073844418936.html
Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323751104578149073844418936.html
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
First Walkergate Aide Sentenced - Six Months in Jail plus Probation
Kelly RindFleisch, a former aide to Scott Walker, and plead guilty to doing political work at taxpayer expense while for Milwaukee County. She will get 6 months in the clinker plus probation. She is the first of several former Walker aides to be sentenced.
Link: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/former-walker-aide-sentenced-prosecutor-says-campaign-office-staff-in/article_27f3a62e-324f-11e2-9106-0019bb2963f4.html
Link: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/former-walker-aide-sentenced-prosecutor-says-campaign-office-staff-in/article_27f3a62e-324f-11e2-9106-0019bb2963f4.html
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Dane County GOP #FAIL on Carbon Monoxide Tweet
In an attempt to make fun of what was possibly a misstatement by MSBC commentator Chris Matthews, the Dane County GOP apparently sought to join in the laughter by tweeting:
For more outlandish chortling from the local right wing, visit https://twitter.com/danerepublicans
Link: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2012/11/14/seeking-skewer-republican-ignorance-science-chris-matthews-exposes
LOL RT @jstrevino: That dumb Sarah Palin thinks "trees absorb carbon monoxide." http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2012/11/14/seeking-skewer-republican-ignorance-science-chris-matthews-exposes …The really funny thing here is that trees really do absorb carbon monoxide, as well as carbon dioxide. A second funny thing is that Matthews was not talking about Sarah Palin - he was talking about three other climate change deniers who may be picked to lead the House committee providing oversight on this important issue.
For more outlandish chortling from the local right wing, visit https://twitter.com/danerepublicans
Link: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2012/11/14/seeking-skewer-republican-ignorance-science-chris-matthews-exposes
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Boycott Palermo's Pizza
A major boycott of Palermo's, a Milwaukee pizza company, is in effect for
firing dozens of employees without cause. The issue stems for the workers,
who after 10 years were still making under $10 an hour in some cases and
who could barely afford health insuarnce, tried to unionize. Instead of
letting the workers vote on this, the company fired workers who failed to
prove their citizenship status - even after the Federal government had told
the company they would not be prosecuted for immigration violations.
Please do not buy Palermo's products and add your voice to the growing
number of people and organizations taking part in the boycott until the
fired workers are reinstated and the company improves working conditions,
including not impeding further efforts of the organizing efforts of
Palermo's workers.
More info:
www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/business/striking-palermos-pizza-workers-say-immi
grants-were-fired-to-stop-a-union.html
firing dozens of employees without cause. The issue stems for the workers,
who after 10 years were still making under $10 an hour in some cases and
who could barely afford health insuarnce, tried to unionize. Instead of
letting the workers vote on this, the company fired workers who failed to
prove their citizenship status - even after the Federal government had told
the company they would not be prosecuted for immigration violations.
Please do not buy Palermo's products and add your voice to the growing
number of people and organizations taking part in the boycott until the
fired workers are reinstated and the company improves working conditions,
including not impeding further efforts of the organizing efforts of
Palermo's workers.
More info:
www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/business/striking-palermos-pizza-workers-say-immi
grants-were-fired-to-stop-a-union.html
Friday, November 9, 2012
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson Fails in Trying to School Tammy Baldwin
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, who was only elected to the Senate a couple of years ago, failed to not the Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin was a member of the House Budget Committee for six years in addition to being a math and political science double major in college. He had attempted to assert his massive knowledge of the Senate's budget process, when in fact he is far less experienced.
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/tammy-baldwin-ron-johnson-federal-budget_n_2102760.html
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/tammy-baldwin-ron-johnson-federal-budget_n_2102760.html
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Implementing the Affordable Healthcare Act a Bitter Pill for Scott Walker
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is doing everything in his power to slow the implementation of the Affordable Healthcare Act, waiting until the last possible day to tell the Federal Dept. of Health and Human Services how it plans to create health exchanges for the state. If Wisconsin doesn't do it, the Federal government will do it for them.
Link: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Obama-s-win-forces-Walker-s-hand-on-health-care-4018415.php
Link: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Obama-s-win-forces-Walker-s-hand-on-health-care-4018415.php
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Obama and Baldwin Win Wisconsin
Tonight's election is proof positive that the conservative agenda is not the Wisconsin way. I'm so proud of my friends and fellow Democrats for their hard work, their commitment to integrity, and for the values of decency and respect that have propelled our party and our vision toward four more years of the Presidency and control of the Senate. As for those congressional districts that Republicans have succeeded in redistricting to suit their political goals - congratulations. You have kept those seats for another 2 years. I look forward to 2014.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Still Time to Vote in Wisconsin!
The polls close at 8 p.m. in Wisconsin. You cannot be turned away if you are in line by 8 p.m. If you live in Dane County, Union Cab is giving free rides to the polls. Do not take pictures of your ballot (it's a felony in Wisconsin).
Go Tammy! Go Mark! Go Barack! Go Dems!
Go Tammy! Go Mark! Go Barack! Go Dems!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Train Maker Sues Walker Administration for $4.6 million
Many of the jobs that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker seems to be creating are lawyers.
Link: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/trainmaker-talgo-sues-gov-walker-wisconsin-cg7gu7j-177369571.html
Link: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/trainmaker-talgo-sues-gov-walker-wisconsin-cg7gu7j-177369571.html
Colorado Tea Party Activist Commits Suicide after Rape Charges
Greg Peterson, a Colorado-based GOP and Tea Party activist has committed suicide after several allegations of rape surfaced.
Link: http://www.examiner.com/article/gop-activist-commits-suicide-after-being-charged-with-raping-five-women
Link: http://www.examiner.com/article/gop-activist-commits-suicide-after-being-charged-with-raping-five-women
Saturday, November 3, 2012
GOP VP Pick Paul Ryan Wisely Muzzled by Romney Campaign
VP candidate Paul Ryan has not given any local interviews for almost a month now, even though he's running simultaneously for Vice President and Congressman. Why, I wonder? Wasn't he picked for his leadership qualities? Or something else? Is he possibly going to say something that Romney doesn't want you to know about him?
Link: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83263.html
Link: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83263.html
Friday, November 2, 2012
If Romney is so great, why are his poll numbers down by 20 pts in Mass.?
Seems like the residents of Massachusetts are trying to tell the country something... Vote for Obama!
Seriously, being ahead by 20 percentage points is the same lead Obama has in Illinois!
Link: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/ma/massachusetts_romney_vs_obama-1804.html
Seriously, being ahead by 20 percentage points is the same lead Obama has in Illinois!
Link: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/ma/massachusetts_romney_vs_obama-1804.html
Thursday, November 1, 2012
PBS NewsHour: Wisconsin Vote Down to the Wire
The PBS NewsHour covered the Wisconsin vote yesterday. Check it out!
Watch Winning Wisconsin Will Come Down to Candidates' Ground Game on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.
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