No Tie. Minnesota beats Wisconsin handily….in life

Yes. The football rivalry between Minnesota and Wisconsin dates back to early 60’s and the days of Vince Lombardi and for the most part, Wisconsin’s Packers have dominated over tha past 50 years. But this post is not about a football game, but rather, the great game of real life.

One of those unplanned, spontaneous anomalies has erupted to create an interesting new rivalry between the two states on the great gridiron of life. Simply put, in the 2010 elections Minnesota went Progressive – really progressive. Wisconsin went conservative – Tea Party Conservative. So, what we got here is a Monday morning quarterbacking picture of two divergent strategies for real life things like education, job creation, tax policy, and all the fast breaks, and play action passes that allow for real people to thrive in the “pursuit of happiness”. So, what is going right or wrong? Who is winning and why?

Right vs. Left in the Midwest
N.Y. Times Editorial By LAWRENCE R. JACOBS Published: November 23, 2013
… a natural experiment that compares the agendas of modern progressivism and the new right. Wisconsin elected Republicans to majorities in the Legislature and selected a bold and vigorous Republican governor, Scott Walker. Minnesotans elected one of the most progressive candidates for governor in the country, Mark Dayton of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

The season is not over…but Wisconsin is getting trounced

The game plan of Scott Walker and conservatives has been predictably the same since the time of Lombardi – job creation and a vibrant economy will follow cutting taxes, especially for the wealthy.

In Minnesota, Mark Dayton’s plan was to raise taxes by $2.1 billion, the largest increase in recent state history. He ran around the middle to target the top 1 percent of earners to pay 62 percent of the new taxes.

It is late in the third quarter

Since a governor’s term is four years, and we are in the third year of the Walker vs. Dayton. We can extrapolate the success of the two plans of the two governors as they watch the clock tick down in the final minutes of the third quarter of their football game of life.

Job creation and economic growth Wisconsin losing

We are now three years into Mr. Walker’s term, and Wisconsin lags behind Minnesota in job creation and economic growth.

Dayton
Minnesota is the fifth fastest growing state economy, with private-sector job growth exceeding pre-recession levels. Forbes rates Minnesota as the eighth best state for business.

Walker
Walker’s game plan of tax cuts for the wealthy carried the promise to win the game with 250,000 private sector jobs by the end of the game. In harsh reality, the result is that the plan has produced less than 90,000 of those promised jobs putting Wisconsin at 34th among all states in job growth. Forbes’s annual list of best states for business pits Wisconsin as a loser in the bottom half list.

Education Wisconsin losing

Dayton
The Dayton game plan called for Minnesota’s new tax revenue to be invested in human capital with 71% of available funds invested in K-12 Education, higher education, and programs to create wider access to early childhood learning programs.

Walker
By contrast, Mr. Walker’s strategy of austerity called for cutting state funding of K-12 schools by more than 15 percent. A child attending public school in Wisconsin is struggling under the seventh sharpest decline of per student spending in the country.

Health Care Wisconsin is losing…big

Walker
Walker’s game plan for health care was formulated under under assistant coach Dennis Smith who came from the Koch Brothers supported, Heritage Foundation. So, Walker refused to establish a state health insurance exchange or to expand Medicaid, even though the federal government covered all costs for three years and most costs after that. This is like being offered a top talent wide receiver and keeping him on the sidelines.

The uninsured and the ill bear the burden. Many of the 10 percent of uninsured Wisconsinites were denied new Medicaid benefits and were shunted off to the federal exchange’s stumbling website without any help or coaching from the sidelines.

Dayton
Meanwhile on the Minnesota sideline, Mr. Dayton was on course to improve Minnesota’s low uninsured rate. He expanded Medicaid to cover an additional 35,000 people and accepted Washington’s offer to pick up the cost. Mr. Dayton embraced the Affordable Health Care plan and created a state insurance exchange, which enrolled more than 90 percent of its first month’s target. Minnesota is winning big time. The state’s innovative medical care and nonprofit insurers produce premiums in its insurance exchange that are, on average, the lowest in the country, well below premiums in Wisconsin.

Analysis of the stats resulting from the game plans of the two governors present an obvious and glaring difference for the people of the two states. Minnesota working under the plan of raising taxes for the wealthy, is winning at providing for the pursuit of happiness for the people of Minnesota.

Wisconsin loses

Walkers plan of cutting taxes fore the wealthiest in Wisconsin, cutting spending for education, and dismissing setting up insurance exchanges and expanding medicare for purely political reasons – leave the people at a loss when compared to their neighbors to the West.

The only hope for future victory in Wisconsin is to get a new coach.

John Doe – Stay denied, Plot thickens

“What’s past is prologue.”
― William Shakespeare, The Tempest

The subjects of the expanding John Doe investigation (see partial list at lower right) hired heavy duty lawyers to block the investigation that has spread to at least five counties in Wisconsin. Some have speculated, much to the delight of wounded progressives, how the current investigation carries the potential to explode the secret workings behind the recall campaigns like an over done baked potato in an oven of deceit.

Daniel Bice No Quarter Nov. 23

The first time Milwaukee County prosecutors launched a secret criminal investigation of allies of Gov. Scott Walker, those on the right were largely silent.

There were no online attacks, no litigation and few talk-radio rants — until charges were filed. Conservatives took their lead from the governor, who said he would trust the process to clear him.

A new investigation has triggered a wholesale change in tactics.

The request for a halt was denied in short order by the three judges — Brian Blanchard, Joanne Kloppenburg and Paul Lundsten — rejected the final two arguments, saying they “plainly lack merit” but ordered the parties to submit additional arguments on the remaining claims. Court: No halt for now to secret John Doe investigation DEE J. HALL | Wisconsin State Journal In an order released late Friday afternoon, the 4th District Court of Appeals ordered that the “motion to stay all further proceedings in the underlying John Doe investigations is denied at this time.” John Doe may well be onto the trail of crumbs, consisting of the Koch Brothers money as it was shielded by the organizations on the list. Oh and what a list it is, implicating people who have risen into political fortune and fame as a result of the effort. The Koch coin rolled into a Scott Walker’s Campaign, which was lead by Senator Ron Johnson and into the coffers of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, which was lead by the current leader of the National GOP Party, Reince Priebus. If the health care web site is Obama’s Katrina, John Doe holds the promise of becoming the Tea Party assassination.

Walker’s campaign Wisconsin Club for Growth Republican Governors Association Republican Party of Wisconsin Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Wisconsin Family Action League of American Voters

The perfect storm of corruption

High pressured corruption has been swirling through the recent recall campaigns in Wisconsin and now, it is converging with an updraft with the most recent eruption of crony political scandal, to set the ship of the Walker campaign tossing in a tempest of just revenge.

A hint of the damaging winds contained with the subpenaed documents was portrayed in the Cognitive Dissonance blog. Just one snippet of the hundreds of pages of docs reveals the slippery sluice of money awash in the super storm atmosphere of hurricane Koch.

Cognitive Dissonance Friday, November 22, 2013

Son of Doe: Gunsmoke
But at the bottom of this page is a note which apparently is supposed to be a sort of name-dropping reference regarding the work he (Paul Behing who is an IT guy) did for the campaign of David “Chokehold” Prosser. Read it closely several times. It is simply jaw dropping in what he says:

Note: Justice Prosser sent a letter to me an I thought you may wish to forward if appropriate. I needed to get very creative with diverse State and National organizations to help his campaing due to being financially capped at $300,000 and it was a non-partisan race without the benefit of normal political party help which was very different than working with Governor Walker’s Team. Justice Prosser is an experienced Justice on our Supreme Court and a pleasure to work with.

If this one little shell of shame is an example of the trash now being uncovered in the sea of slime surrounding the GOP campaign activity…can you just imagine?

While the John Doe pressure rises new storms appear

The alphabet soup of storms centers around the investigation by Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG). Ken Mosentine, former President of GWAAR files complaint against the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR) for the wrongful and the unethical conduct of its executives and Governor Walker’s political appointees at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)

Walker’s Aging Agencies Breaks Ethics & Federal Laws
by Website on November 20, 2013

Through a year-long investigation by CWAG’s outside legal experts, CWAG discovered the misuse and mismanagement of federal funds by DHS, GWAAR and MCDA. In the case of Walker’s former political appointees at MCDA, Stephanie Sue Stein falsified her Economic Interest Statement over the last five years by lying and covering up the fact that she is the Corporate Vice President of a Wisconsin based privately-held, non-stock Corporation called the; “WI Assoc. of Area Agency on Aging Directors Inc. (Wis4A’s).”

Here is the CWAG’s website

While the Walker Campaign is bracing from the John Doe investigation swirling over Wisconsin more allegations of corruption and cover up are rising up from within the Capitol itself to create the perfect storm.

The Captain and crew of the vessel of doomed ship “Unintimidated” seem to be trying to stay out in front of the storm through the release of allegations that the storm is the workings of witchcraft. Heavy hitting lawyers are being summoned to the deck to pump out legal briefs, while public relations experts are below deck tightening up the leaks and fissures in the failing vessel.

All the Koch money in the world is but a damp life preserver in the eye of the perfect storm.

More "You might be a Walker supporter if…." JOKES

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Time Magazine needs to study "Vetting for Dumbies"

Lies, damn lies, statistics, and Time Magazine

I am forgiving of people on face book and in the comment trailers of news articles, who post hearsay, non-fact without a source or counterpoint. But Time Magazine? Shame on you. Really.

Zeke J. Miller published the piece in “Time” as though it were just another one of those face book comments, without bothering to research the accuracy of the statement or providing the full context or counterpoint. “La dee da.” and “Ho dee ho” said, “I am good, I am great” – and just leave it at that. Who expects journalism from a national publication these days anyway?

It is just that we in Wisconsin have been so buried in the avalanche of the slippery, sloppy, journalistic mud slide of sell and spin for so long, we have imposed a zero tolerance for crappy reporting from you or “Time” , Mr. Miller.

So you quote Scott Walker in your piece and even go on to give him an “ata’boy!” for hoping to get a college degree some day….

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: 2016 Contender But Not A College Graduate But Not A College Graduate
By Zeke J Miller @zekejmiller | TIME.com Nov. 19, 2013

“The reason I went to college, in large part, was not just to get an education for an education’s sake, but to get a job,” Walker said of his decision to drop out of school. At first he tried to be a part time student, but quickly the births of his children took that option off the table.

Problem is “NOT TRUE”

Lazy you Mr. Miller. Have you ever heard of Google search? It isn’t even like you had to make a lot of phone calls or drive a few miles to speak to a source – all you had to do is google “Scott Walker Marquette” and just read for a few minutes. Have you ever used a search engine? You might be surprised at what you find. If you bothered to search Walker’s years at Marquette against marriage and birth records, you would find that what you published was little more than a “pants on fire” lie.

But since you are so busy, doing whatever it is you do, here is a link to A journalist guide to vetting Scott Walker.

Maybe you would like to read what another highly credible source had to say?

While Scott Walker was a student at Marquette University he is alleged to have fathered and then abandoned a child. The story first broke in the days before the Walker (June 5, 2012) Recall election, when a friend of the abandoned mother of Scott Walker’s child, was moved to come forward after hearing a speech by the Governor in which he boasted of his impeccable values.

The allegation deflated as quickly as it had grown. Yet, like so many of the facts surrounding the seedy side of Scott Walker, questions were left unanswered.

What is it with Walker and all the unanswered questions regarding what he knew, and when he knew it – and I am thinking about a secret email network here.

Then last February I received a CD document in the mail from an anonymous source that purported to reveal the identity of Walker’s Marquette girl friend and the child born of the pregnancy described by Dr. Gillick.

The allegations were made public by a highly credible source, Dr. Bernadette Gillick, who is described as a college professor at a major Midwestern university in the article WCM Co Op that appeared in the WCM Co Op article in June of 2012 shortly before Walker’s recall election.

Dr. Gillick’s motivation and credibility are impeccable and demonstrate that her revelations relating to Scott Walker where not politically motivated, but rather, came from a sense of compassion she has demonstrated through her career of working with children who are stroke victims.

Two-Time Scholarship Recipient Bernadette Gillick, PT, MS, Studies Constraint-Induced
Movement Therapy. Not only has she worked as a clinician forover 17 years and as an instructor at a number of universities, but she has earned an Advanced Masters Degree in Neurologic Physical Therapy and is now making her mark in physical therapy research and pursuing a PhD in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Gillick’s motivation and credibility Dr. Gillick PDF

Through her attorney, Mike Fargione, she issued a statement: “It is rare that you will ever hear from me on issues of politics, as I am a firm believer that most politics are local and can be as local as our own kitchen tables. But I’m asking you to consider what I have to share …

The incidents described below all took place when Scott Walker was running for Student Body President at Marquette in the late 1980’s.

Dr. Gillick reveals:

–She was assigned a room in O’Donnell Hall (then a women’s dormitory at Marquette), which she shared with her new roommate, Ruth (not her real name). Ruth was dating Scott Walker, who was 20 at the time, and, according to Bernadette, Ruth was deeply in love with him.

–Ruth found out she was pregnant. She informed her boyfriend, Scott, and initially he was supportive. That support changed to callous indifference for his girlfriend’s predicament after Scott informed his parents of the pregnancy.

– He [Scott] went from encouraging her to get an abortion, to telling me [Dr. Gillick] it was in my best interest to keep my mouth shut, to denying that he was the father and having his own mother call her and tell her to stop erroneously accusing her son of paternity,”

– It was a “horrible time” for her friend. “Imagine her being 18 years old and pregnant, walking around Marquette’s Jesuit Catholic campus with her boyfriend denying he was the father,”

Dr. Gillick’s revelation was met with checks, support, and denial”

Daniel Bice Journal Sentinel “No Quarter”

The story broke and was reported across the blogosphere, but on the very next day, and before the account got its legs, it was dismissed by Journal Sentinel “No Quarter” reporter, Daniel Bice in a statement that was reported across the net:

“I am getting a lot of emails because of this post. Two things: (1) I tracked down and talked to Dr. Gillick’s freshman-year roommate at MU yesterday, and she adamantly denies that Walker is the father of her child. Yes, she got pregnant as a first-year student, but she believes Dr. Gillick is mixing up stories; and (2) I Can Read CCAP has taken a family court suit involving Scott Alan Walker and mixed it up with the governor, Scott Kevin Walker.

Rebuttal of Bice from Badger Democracy Blog

The Scott Walker referenced in the “Bice” comment of Family Court CCAP record was born in April, 1961. The woman in the record (mother of the child) was born in 1962. There is no possible way Dr. Gillick would confuse, or have even known this “other” Scott Walker, much less been roommates with the mother at Marquette. They are both 6 – 7 years older that any of the parties cited by Dr. Gillick. Badger Democracy

Scott Walker’s Birthday – November 2, 1967 (age 45 years)

Senft, Laura Ann – Petitioner
Laura Ann Senft vs. Scott Alan Walker
Milwaukee County Case Number 2004FA003749
Petitioner Senft, Laura Ann
Respondent Walker, Scott Alan
Circuit Court Access Document
Family
Responsible Official
Sullivan, Michael P.
Branch Id 26

Filing Date 05-21-2004

Party Details Senft, Laura Ann – Petitioner Date of Birth 06-1962 Address Updated On 05-24-2004 533 Watson, Aurora, IL 60505 Attorney Name Probst, Jane E

Walker, Scott Alan – Respondent Male Date of Birth 04-1961 Address: 2108 Hwy 10, Appleton, WI Address Updated On 05-24-200 05-24-2004

Dr. Gillick sticks to her story:

“Gillick has no plans to issue any modified statement or retraction. “It’s still accurate and contains everything she knows, so there’s no reason to rehash it,” he says. “What Bernadette knows is the experience that her roommate had. She doesn’t have anything to add to what she has said.” Not Wavering WCM Co Op Article

The other other Scott Walker case is clearly irrelevant to the allegations against Governor Scott Walker.

So the only fact that goes against Dr. Gillick’s account is that in a phone interview conducted by Bice, the voice of Ruth denied that Governor Scott Walker was the father of her child. That’s it.

The Walker administration made no comment on the allegations. Dr. Gillick was not subject to any libel or defamation suites as a result of her statements.

Dr. Gillick felt obligated to tell the story of “Ruth” as a reaction to hearing Scott Walker speak of his integrity. As he talked about his “lifelong integrity” her anger grew. This was a man who had abandoned his pregnant young girlfriend — completely turned his back on her at the most fragile point in her life. She notes his “now-convenient ‘pro-life’ proclamations” after burying his past “indiscretion.”

It is one thing to carry the unwanted child allegations on his record. It is quite another make a special proclamation, back in January, to set a day aside as Anti Choice Day, when credible allegations have surfaced that indicate that Gov. Walker may have taken the male advantage of making the very choice that is now proclaimed to be unworthy for women.

Last Summer on July 5 Scott Walker picked the day after the holiday to do a news dump. It was on that day he announced the signing of legislation destined to close all but two clinics in the state to provide women’s health services and abortion.

More evidence from Marquette

John Doe Cause for “Uintimidated” do over

Walker’s book renamed

Only one day after the official release of Walker’s new book “Unintimidated”, a new title has been suggested:

I could tell you…but I would have to kill you.

The lid was blown off the John Doe investigation when specific information was leaked that may have been an intentional set up and part of a strategy to clear a path for legal proceedings to stop the investigation in its path.

You know. You go out in the street an yell, “Fire!”. When the fire trucks come I will say, “Not fair. They are all being driven by union loving public workers!”… or something like that. Anyway, the events, which are secret to begin with, are beginning to take on more twists and turns than a reverse roller coaster ride.

The “secret” John Doe investigation is now served five “sealed” motions by three “unnamed” people. The filings, called petitions for supervisory writs, are requests that higher courts review how the investigation is being conducted.

I think this is supposed to be all “hush, hush”?

By Patrick Marley, Jason Stein and Daniel Bice of the Journal Sentinel
Nov. 19, 2013

Madison — Three unnamed people have asked the Wisconsin Court of Appeals to temporarily halt a secret investigation of campaign fundraising and spending during Wisconsin’s recent recall elections.

Meanwhile, the front man, Scott Walker, is out making the rounds on the curvy couch claiming to be “Unintimidated” by all such protests and commotion, which is the greatest set up for musical comedy since “The Emperors New Clothes”. Kingly Walker and his minions are so unintimidated by prosecutors sifting through emails and hard drives, that they are calling in the legal heavies.

Some come with poetic names like James “Bopp” Jr., who has a national reputation for representing conservative clients in free speech cases. He will not, can not, should not – say who he is representing in the proceedings. (Bopp? Do you get the image of him holding a stuffed prop?)

And then there is Muse & Cippollone (An Italian Deli for kids?)
Michael J. Bresnick — a partner at the Washington, D.C., law firm of Stein Mitchell Muse & Cippollone — declined to say who his client was. Bresnick, a former federal prosecutor, recently spent two years as the executive director of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. He will not, can not, should not – say who he is representing in the proceedings. Maybe he is the caterer?

Absurdity proceeds resolution

The complete breakdown of logical sense in the chain of events of the long and tedious John Doe investigation holds the promise that the final curtain is near. Other very serious and controversial chains of events have devolved into a similar side show attractions, only to reach final resolve shortly thereafter. Look at George Zimmerman and how any credibility of the man slowly took flight to la la land. What about Sarah Palin as a person who is one heartbeat away for the Presidency. How absurd is that in hindsight?

Now that the three year long John Doe Investigation is finally making its turn into “Bopp”, “Muse”, and “Cippollone” land, we may well be over the hump, and find that the final resolution is close at hand.

Some of us may be feeling rather “Unintimidated” by the whole thing.

John Doe targets Governor, Senator, and much more

As Scott Walker is slated to do Morning Joe

Walker is making the rounds as a “person of interest” for President, as he continues to hold the same “person of interest” status as a central focus in the John Doe investigation. I wonder if the “Morning Joe gang” on MSNBC will even take notice?

As the scope of the target in the investigation suggests, Wisconsin has been pillaged by some of the most wealthy and ruthless conservative revilers from the right over the past three years. Look at the list!

But, it isn’t the action itself that hurts the most. No. What really clenches the guts and brings tears to the eyes, is the helplessness. Look at the list! Look at the money and power of political capitol, and messaging, and control, and…you can guess that the Morning Joe folks on MSNBC will not even make mention or make note of the fact that Walker is under any scrutiny at all. That is the helplessness. That is what hurts.

The specifics of the actions taken against conservative groups were leaked from the tight silence imposed by the very nature of a John Doe investigation, and at some risk to Eric O’Keefe who is director of the Wisconsin Club for Growth.

Do you see what is wrong with this picture? O’Keefe came forward to present evidence of a witch hunt to the Wall Street Journal and only then, did the story become newsworthy. Even though the story has been grinding along in Wisconsin for years, it was only when a conservative principle cries foul that it becomes an important story. Here is a prime example of the hurt – the helplessness of the voters in face of all of the conservative money and power.

So, who is speaking for the voters of Wisconsin who were misinformed and disenfranchised through the actions of conservative groups in the State’s elections over the past three years? When operatives of any of the conservative groups listed as targets feel their rights are being attacked, it becomes the subject of an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal. When voters have released stories of vote suppression and violation of election laws…silence. The allegations of violations of elections laws are dismissed as incompetence, mistakes, and in the case of the American’s for Prosperity fraudulent mailing, a typo!

The opinion piece said about 30 groups had received subpoenas, including heavy hitters nationally.

A closer look at the target groups of the investigation from the list of eight named organizations under investigation, (on the right) implicates a litany of scofflaws apart from Scott Walker, including Senator Ron Johnson, Carl Rove, and Reince Priebus.

Walker’s campaign Wisconsin Club for Growth Republican Governors Association Republican Party of Wisconsin Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Wisconsin Family Action League of American Voters

Standing with Hokey Hackneyed Heroes

Once upon a time, in America, our political leaders were often heroes who possessed qualities to which children could aspire. Remember? Without regard for a leader’s political stance, a politician held the hearts and ears of the public based on their character.

You remember the qualities: honesty, integrity…well, perhaps the Boy Scout law offers a worthy list of the expectations of character of our leaders.

Remember?

The new lawless leaders More recently, a new brand of hokey, hackneyed, heroes have arrived on the political scene – a new “abnormal” cast of characters have arrived as Congress members, Mayors, and Governors across America. In many cases, this new cavalcade of persons of questionable values have not only been allowed to maintain position, but more alarmingly, have been publicly lauded as guardians, protectors, and liberators, and are cheered as icons of some opposite of honesty and integrity. They are able to maintain positions of power because they are openly lacking. Go figure.

A scout is… Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

We often notice foibles and weaknesses in people, places, and things when problems arise in the extreme. What could be a more obvious extreme of a lack in character than Rob Ford, the self proclaimed crack smoking Mayor of Toronto. An extreme indeed!

Beneath the extreme of a Rob Ford lie the more muted minions of the hokey and hackneyed. I’ve only been to Toronto once. I live in Wisconsin where this same phenomena of a hackneyed hero is actually being mentioned with greater and greater frequency as a candidate for President of the United States. Go figure again.

Scott Walker has been circled with a sweeping John Doe investigation since the days of his campaign for Governor in 2010. This investigation was pitched back in the mainstream press last week when the Wall Street Journal editorial Wisconsin Political Speech Raid which suggests that a new round of subpenas and searches connected to the widened investigation, is little more than a witch hunt aimed at limiting the free speech of conservative groups. Not true. Election laws have been broken, stretched, and skirted in Wisconsin for the past three years, and specific and documented instances are addressed in the Free Wisconsin post John Doe – Subpoenas hit, homes tossed.

Nobody cares

When the post appeared, one of my conservative friends commented on face book, “Nobody cares.” That statement hit me like a Mayor Rob Ford drunken death threat. In many ways, he is right. Scott Walker has become Rob Ford in a minor key, right here in Wisconsin. Even though a swirl of searches and subpoenas has swirled around his former office and his former aides, some of whom were sentenced with felony convictions, he is appearing on This Week as a viable candidate for President of the United States. No one cares.

Just as Rob Ford appeared at a football game surrounded by the cheers and back slaps of a hero, Scott Walker has become one of the same hokey, hackneyed heroes who can do no wrong, regardless of any investigations or allegations of incompetence or malfeasance. There he is being elevated to the status of a rock star on ABC’s “This Week” without so much as a hint of the investigation that has surrounded his administration for the past three years. But then, after the 60 Minutes’ interview with a bogus Bengazi witness, followed by a retraction and apology, perhaps ABC is joining the new normal of skim vetting of those given a microphone. Or, maybe, nobody cares.

Just as the crack smoking video of Rob Ford circulated months before it finally bubbled up to the level of reality that broke into the national press, the Walker bubble remains captured in the sound bite of “public employee union breaker” and so far, has not busted out to reveal the full and detailed unsavory details of Walker’s rise to power. A good place to begin might be A journalist’s guide to vetting Candidate Walker.

John Doe – Subpoenas hit, homes tossed

New investigations of Scott Walker and friends

New probe investigating illegal actions, including campaign violations during the Senate and Governor’s recall elections.

John Doe investigations have been the most consistent and on-going news from the Administration of Scott Walker. The original John Doe investigation began as Walker took office and continued for over two years.

John Doe rises again like a bad penny that has been stuck in the vending machine of political flimflam only to be found in the coin-return slot still bearing the date of its mint. Kelly Rindfleisch was sentenced on November 19th, 2012 to six months in jail and three years of probation for her role in rising Walker to power.

Kelly keeled, Walker walked, and all the lawyers talked and talked. Now, here we go again with John Doe Act 2, and at a most inopportune time for the “Walker who walked” as he is up for re-election next November, and his name is included in conversation as a presidential candidate in 2016.

Not one day. Not one hour of Scott Walker has been free of a John Doe investigation. The timeline of shadiness began in his County Executive’s office with a secret email network and has continued through the shady Wisconsin Sportsmen Grant that was buried in the most recent state budget.

“Unintimidated” – the book “Unindicted” – the reality

Just as Walker’s hard bound campaign brochure “Unintimidated” is due to be officially released, yet another, wave of John Doe subpoenas and searches have been active across the State of Wisconsin. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Even before Walker’s recall election the silent and secret sleuth, John Doe, was known to be searching and tossing apartments of Walker’s friends and associates. Now, this time, it seems the Feds may be involved.

The Wall Street Journal is painting this as a further witch hunt against conservative groups and contend that “Americans learned in the IRS political targeting scandal that government enforcement power can be used to stifle political speech.” The article (quoted below) suggests that new and active John Doe investigation in Wisconsin may be a further federal action against conservative groups. To the Journal, it appears to retribution for Governor Scott Walker’s union reforms.

Free Speech?

Subpoenas hit allies of Scott Walker as his re-election campaign loom
Wall Street Journal Updated Nov. 15, 2013

In recent weeks, special prosecutor Francis Schmitz has hit dozens of conservative groups with subpoenas demanding documents related to the 2011 and 2012 campaigns to recall Governor Walker and state legislative leaders.

Copies of two subpoenas we’ve seen demand “all memoranda, email . . . correspondence, and communications” both internally and between the subpoena target and some 29 conservative groups, including Wisconsin and national nonprofits, political vendors and party committees. The groups include the League of American Voters, Wisconsin Family Action, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Americans for Prosperity—Wisconsin, American Crossroads, the Republican Governors Association, Friends of Scott Walker and the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

The actions of the some conservative groups mentioned above have broken the law in documented cases during the days preceding the Senate recall elections in Wisconsin, when Americans for Prosperity mailed out election information that was false, and would lead to the disenfranchisement of voters.

The Republican County Clerks in several counties were documented as displaying false voter ID information on official web sites stating that a voter ID would be required to vote in the Senate recall and the Walker recall election even though the requirement was nullified by a court injunction.

Republican County Clerks in several Wisconsin counties are known to have sent election materials out of state illegally. Cartridges holding the electronic record of the Walker recall vote were returned to the vendor “Command Central” days before they were to be held secure by state law.

Wisconsin activists have felt helpless against money and organization of many of the “conservative groups” listed in the subpena, and
sought federal intervention into allegations of election fraud in Wisconsin dating back to the day Kathy Nickolaus “found” 14,000 votes after the 2011 Spring Supreme Court Election.

Please do not dismiss the investigations into the broken laws and consistent dismissal of such frequent displays of incompetency on the part of county clerks as a witch hunt. The groups listed in the subpena were not exercising their rights of free speech by intentionally and illegally misinforming voters. County clerks must be held accountable for misinformation posted on web sites that could very well have mislead and disenfranchised voters.

Coincidence and incompetence may be a reasonable defense in a limited number of cases, but most investigators do not believe in coincidence. The new widespread investigation of the well healed conservative groups that have invaded Wisconsin since the days before the 2010 election, is a long time in coming.

The suggestion that these groups are being singled out and being deprived of their right of free speech, only serves to demonstrate how little the Wall Street Journal knows of what has been happening on the ground in Wisconsin for the past three years. The people who read the false information on web sites and received deceptive mailings from Americans for Prosperity – are the victims. People who discovered how election materials that were to be kept secure after the June 5 election had already been sent back – are the victims. Documented proof is held that demonstrates that the people of Wisconsin were deprived of their right to vote, and the Wall Street Journal hopes to defend the perpetrators?

You might be a Walker supporter if…JOKES

Help define a Walker supporter

There comes a time when a set of fringe political ideas become so preposterous and predictable that they begin to form a satirical landscape for humor. For instance, the long line of “You might be a redneck if..l.” jokes.

It takes some passage of time and circumstance before a satirical landscape evolves to become a fitting target for such a line of humorous definition. The “Tea Party” and “Stand with Walker” folks have crossed that line. The fringe political views, predictable pompous morality, and unabashed words of attack have become fodder for satirical kicks and giggles. Oh boy!

So, today and just for fun, Free Wisconsin is launching a platform for the creation of “You might be a Walker supporter if…” jokes.

If you always wear a full head mask when walking in the woods…you might be a Walker supporter.

If you believe “voter” means a white middle class male…you might be a Walker supporter.

If you think the book “1984” is a political platform…you might be a Walker supporter.

If you carry more than two guns in your car…you might be a Walker supporter.

If you believe that Christmas trees are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights…you might be a Walker supporter.

If you believe public instruction is what highway signs do…you might be a Walker supporter..
If you believe “meals on wheels” is a breakfast cereal…you might be a Walker supporter.

Join the fun

You will find a comment section at the bottom of the post. Please feel free to add you own “You might be a Walker supporter”…joke.

If you like your President you can keep him

The “Yes we can!”, stocks are falling sharply

In the brave new world of media minestrone mania, the American Presidency is little more than a political product with an ever dwindling shelf life. Obama’s popularity numbers have fallen. Many media mega minds are quick to add that his favorability is as low as George W. Bush at the same point in his presidency, and that his trustworthiness had fallen from 52% to 44%. Gee, you would think he started two wars and tanked the economy.

Barack Obama Approval Rating Gallup
Obama’s Approval Rating Has Dipped Into Dangerously Low Territory
Business Insider Brett LoGiurato Nov. 5, 2013

President Barack Obama’s approval rating has dipped a point to 39%, according to the latest Gallup daily tracking poll — dangerous waters for a president still in the first year of his second term.

The 39% mark is a point lower in Gallup’s three-day rolling average. Obama’s disapproval held steady at 53%.

The roll out of a three day rolling average. Oh my!

Have you ever noticed that any political nuance on any given day seems to carry equal weight of emotion and drama? Any political battle like the health care web site problems or a crack smoking Toronto Mayor, can immediately be reduced to past history by breaking news of an air disaster or a mass shooting. So goes the drama machine moving from one conflict to another, while training the cameras and microphones on victims, villains, hither and yon across the wide world, bringing the once-in-a-lifetime spot light to the story tellers and eye witnesses – unless you are the President of the United States. The President is expected to address any and all major disasters – natural or violent. He or she is or will be expected to define and orchestrate foreign and domestic policy.

Here is the headline that did not splash the front page of newspapers in late August.

Obama Strikes Syria

The man who has been compared to and depicted as Hitler, who has been publicly called a socialist and a communist, and who has been belittled and disregarded as having no right to his office since he was not born in America – this man did not order a immediate strike on Syria. It is easy to imagine that John McCann or any number of republicans would have made a strike of retribution and opened the door to a Pandora’s box of circumstance costing American blood and treasure. Obama did not make that call. As a result we are not at war but pursuing a completely different diplomatic path.

As human beings look at the political scene, it seems to be their nature to view the glass as less than half full or nearly empty. This negativity toward anything “Obama” is expected from conservatives who have openly promised to obstruct this President at every turn. But, progressives must tread softly before adding to the eternal swell of hatred toward this President and take a close look at the total glass full of Obama’s efforts and policies.

Obamacare decision time for Democrats: Fight or flight
Politico By ALEXANDER BURNS and KATIE GLUECK | 11/13/13

A White House under siege. A signature policy initiative turning into an embarrassing public spectacle. Dissent within the president’s own party that threatens to turn into a full-blown revolt.

Now, the voices of congressional leaders and former Presidents, who embarked on the long journey that began “oh” so many months ago, feel restless and anxious. They whine from the back seat, “Are we there yet?” – “Can we stop now” with every passing mile. The adults keep assuring them, “Just a few more miles.”

The journey is long. The planning and preparation began years ago and with a few false starts, and even trips that ended with flat tires, and engine trouble. This is it. Hey kids, we really are almost there. Look at the map or the hand held device and see the long, long line back to where we started on a Christmas Eve past. Hey kids, we decided on this journey for a reason. It is more than just another law or legislative initiative. It is a dream of many great leaders who did not live to see the destination just a few miles ahead. We are moving to a place that is a shift in a paradigm of government, a shift from corporate control to put the wheel in the hands of the people. This is why the obstruction of vested interests and lobbyists has been so long and strong.

Grab a cliche and sing it, “Don’t leave before the miracle.” – “It is darkest before the dawn.” “Ask not what Obama can do for you, ask rather what you can do for Obama.”

Let’s just do this.