We’re still fighting back here in Wisco. No idea what this week will bring. Here’s a handy dandy summary of what’s gone down so far, who the GOP is attacking and (most frighteningly) how they go about doing their business.
View Link [wiscostorm.net]
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9 Reasons to Reclaim Wisco from Koch-Fueled GOP
Practical Archivist
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BEHOLD! The painting Wisco’s GOP Gov (literally) can’t bear to look at
Practical Archivist
I’ll leave it up to you to do the math on that one. He replaced it with a heroic oil painting of “old abe” a civil war era eagle.
@sally_j
View Link [jsonline.com]
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Madison’s new Walkerville tent city
Practical Archivist
80 tents are set up around Madison’s capitol in protest. CNN describes it as “taunting” in the headline.
“Still for all the speeches, events and acrimony on all sides of the debate — and for all the twists and turns that have marked the past six months — even diehard political junkies like Hanson say it is nearly impossible to predict how this political saga will unfold.”
View Link [cnn.com]
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This is what breaking the Wisco Open Meetings Law looks like
Practical Archivist
After trying to summarize for a friend how the Wisco Union Busting Bill ended up voided by Judge Sumi yesterday, I found this well written and highly linked summary from when it all went down.
The “instantaneously passed” link is the one that will take you directly to footage of Rep. Barca’s “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” moment, where he reads the law as they force it through. Mad props to WisconsinEye.org for releasing those recordings online for free viewing ASAP. I watched it the next day.
@sally_j
View Link [theragblog.blogspot.com]
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Wisco GOP staffer brags about voter fraud on Facebook (whoopsies!)
Practical Archivist
GOP Legislative Aid votes in her home district even though she lives in Madison full time. She also forced her mother to sign a false affadavit claiming that she had been living back at home for two months.
This from a party that JUST TODAY passed a heinously restrictive voter id bill /, using (you guessed it) voter fraud as their excuse.
View Link [host.madison.com]
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Tue Apr 12th ACTION -> Send Waukesha County Clerk some IT support via post, whydoncha?
Practical Archivist
Uncomfortable with the way Waukesha County, Wisco handles data security? Here’s a creative suggestion from Defending Wisconsin PAC:
“I want us to go to every used book store, thrift store, charity store, and library and find a book that will help poor Kathy improve her computer skills. I want us to take those books, stick them in an envelope – no need for a letter or even a return address – and send them to:
Kathy Nickolaus
515 W. Moreland Blvd. – Room 120
Waukesha, WI 53188″View Link [defendingwisconsin.org]
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PRESPOSTEROUS! (Wisco Elections Shennanigans Update)
Practical Archivist
The way Waukesha County handles election data is far more preposterous than a federal investigation into 14,000 votes that weren’t reported until after election day…and just happened to flip the outcome in favor of the clerk’s former boss. Nickolaus INSISTS on storing election data off the network where every other Wisco county puts their data. Instead, she keeps it on her desktop computer and allows multiple staffers to use the same login and password. THAT’s preposterous.
View Link [wxow.com]
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Waukesha County Clerk’s past doesn’t make her appear any more credible
Practical Archivist
Egad, this is embarrassing. Remember those 14K+ Wisco votes that weren’t reported until days after election day? Turns out programmer Nickolaus has a pattern of voting irregularities: “last summer, the Waukesha County Board ordered an internal audit of her office, citing concerns Nickolaus was secretive and refusing to cooperate with the county’s technical staff in a security review of the computerized election system.” (Wisconsin State Journal, full article at link)
View Link [host.madison.com]
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(yet even more) Shennanigans in Wisco
Practical Archivist
Even I’m getting tired of all this Wisconsin craziness, and yet? It continues. Check it out: Waukesha County Clerk is allowed to design her own vote-counting-software(!) plus it lives off the network on a desktop computer in her office + has zero IT support after 5pm. Today, she found thousands of votes for Tea Party Darling Prosser that she somehow *forgot* to report to the AP yesterday. Word is, this woman used to work for Prosser — but I haven’t fact checked that yet. omgwhenwillthisendwhenwillthisend?
View Link [biztimes.com]
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Practical Archivist
@news3jessica on Teh Twitter says Prosser was the clerk’s boss.
P.S. The number of votes found today juuust bumps it into the zone where the candidate requesting the recount has to foot the entire bill. If the number of votes is less than 7,000 after the canvassing is complete, then the State of Wisconsin foots the bill. The votes found today gave Prosser a 7,500 vote lead. But I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. Totally.
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emmdeeaych
best part – she apparently “forgot to save the spreadsheet” that gave Prosser that sudden lead.
http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/press/election-returns-what-went-on-in-waukesha.html
Some additional background: http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/100890299.html
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YET EVEN MORE CRIMES by Wisco GOP — Because laws (like taxes) are only for the little people
Practical Archivist
Calling vote with less than 2 hours notice…locking the doors of the Capitol during a vote…telling waiting citizens that it’s full inside, even tho’ someone inside sends a txt msg that two galleries are EMPTY of any people. Welcome to FitzWalkerStan, my friend.
This link is a nice summary of their recent crimes which have come to light under Judge Sumi’s insistence. Video archive of all 4/1/11 testimony is free online @ wisconsineye.com. “How many people were seated in the gallery?” “There were zero.”
View Link [politicususa.com]
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Wisco GOP is paying 50 cents per signature in recall effort
Practical Archivist
OK, they’re paying the *canvassers* not the signers…so technically it’s legal. But BOY HOWDY I’d go over those sigs with a fine tooth comb.
In related news, the first of the GOP recalls has officially been filed. No cash bribes necessary.
View Link [greenbay.craigslist.org]
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Watch this before Wisco GOP chucks it down the memory hole
Practical Archivist
Poor Duffy. He has six kids, two houses, and only one paycheck. His annual salary? $174,000. Now the Wisconsin GOP is eager to get rid of the video. I wonder why?
View Link [tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com]
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Wisco GOP uses FOIA against professor who pointed out ALEC’s role
Practical Archivist
This article by Bill Cronon is long, but important. Why is the Republican Party of Wisconsin requesting his emails? “One obvious conclusion I draw is that my study guide about the role of ALEC in Wisconsin politics must come pretty close to hitting a bull’s-eye. Why else would the Republican Party of Wisconsin feel the need to single out a lone university professor for such uncomfortable attention?”
View Link [scholarcitizen.williamcronon.net]
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OH NOES! Unions Are Destroying Democracy in Wisconsin!
Practical Archivist
Quick! There’s only one possible solution, and it involves the upcoming WI Supreme Court election: “Please make a generous corporate contribution [to Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce] to counter their efforts. Donations are unlimited and undisclosed.”
[emphasis all mine]
I can see the dark humor in it, but living in the middle of this Orwellian nightmare is jaw-clenching and stomach-churning.
FitzWalkerStan has always been at war with TheUnions…
-Sally J.
Citizen-Worker of WisconsinView Link [wmc.org]
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Practical Archivist
Whoops! The words “unlimited” and “undisclosed” were supposed to be — but I guess there’s no html in the submitterator.
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Troubleshootah
God forbid middle class earners should get a decent living wage or be allowed a political voice in order to get one.
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Koch-sponsored ad says Wisco workers should ALL be like Harley
Practical Archivist
The latest Club for Growth ads here in Wisco want me to give back just like my union brothers and sisters at Harley Davidson…where the CEO was paid $6.5 million in the same year workers had to take cuts.
CAPPER ASKS: “So is this what the right wingers really pushing, that we deny ourselves a decent wage, safe work conditions, and our self-respect, just to become corporate serfs? No wonder they have to lie, cheat and steal to get anywhere with this unethical maneuvering from the Republicans.”
View Link [cognidissidence.blogspot.com]
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Gov Walker’s power grab bad for open records in Wisconsin
Practical Archivist
Here in #FitzWalkerStan, open records requests will soon be filled by political appointees of tea party darling Governor Scott Walker and not by civil service employees. You saw how well his people fill these requests, right? Gov claimed 19,000 emails in favor of his union-busting bill…then refused to turn over the proof to journalists. Gov had to turn them over and pay $7,000 in legal fees b/c journalists had no choice but to sue. Dark days, my friends.
View Link [jsonline.com]
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What’s really behind recent GOP legislation in Wisco (Quick HIstory Lesson)
Practical Archivist
“I provide a brief reading list at the end of this note because many people from other parts of the political spectrum often seem not to take the intellectual roots of American conservatism very seriously. I believe this is a serious mistake.”
View Link [scholarcitizen.williamcronon.net]
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[Madison, WI] Rocker Against Walker Answers Question: WHAT’S DISGUSTING?
Practical Archivist
“Rocker Against Walker” and pals, is more accurate. From the massive (150,000 people!) rally in Madison on Saturday. I have another video from the tractorcade up on my Flickr page, too. More to come once I upgrade to flickr pro.
P.S. I asked the boy in front why he looked so mad, and he said he KNEW the girl was giving him bunny ears…even though he couldn’t see it. He just KNEW! Check the video.
View Link [flickr.com]
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[Madison, WI] Rocker Against Walker Answers Question: WHAT’S DISGUSTING?
Practical Archivist
“Rocker Against Walker” and pals, is more accurate. From the massive (150,000 people!) rally in Madison on Saturday. I have another video from the tractorcade up on my Flickr page, too. More to come once I upgrade to flickr pro.
P.S. I asked the boy in front why he looked so mad, and he said he KNEW the girl was giving him bunny ears…even though he couldn’t see it. He just KNEW! Check the video.
View Link [flickr.com]
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Palm Trees in Wisco?! What is this strange parallel universe?
Practical Archivist
Oh, friends. There’s been some sort of mixup in the space-time continuum or something. Because I seem to be trapped in a strange parallel universe where Anonymous (?) has my back — citizen-worker of Wisconsin that I am — and my town suddenly has palm trees. For those of you keeping track at home? Madison is 43° 4′ 23″ N.
-Sally J.
Practical Archivist
State EmployeeView Link [youtube.com]
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LIVE UPDATES from the lock-in in Madison, Wisco
Practical Archivist
The capitol building here in Wisco was mostly cleared last night, with zero arrests. Some protesters left after being assured they would be allowed to return. Today? NOBODY was allowed into the capitol.
If you want to attend a public hearing tomorrow in the Great State of Wisconsin, you have to have a badge from your legislator’s office. But ya can’t pick one up, because you can’t get in without a pass (repeat ad infinitum).
This is a live blog from Jonathan Scott, who has been living inside the capitol most days and nights since February 22nd.
-Sally J.
Practical Archivist & Public Employee
Madison, WiscoView Link [wisconsininsider.typepad.com]
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Practical Archivist
WHOOPS — I should clarify…it’s more of a lock-OUT than a lock in. Or maybe a lockdown? Not sure. This is not an area I know anything about.
TO BE CLEAR — The protesters are free to leave at any time. No one is keeping them there against their will.
But they will not be allowed back in — and no one will be allowed in to take their place. It’s a *self-imposed* lock-in because of the total lockout of the public from the capitol building.
Apologies for submitting such a poorly written headline.
-sj
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DEEPTHROAT: Wisconsin (Nifty “Follow The Money” Infographic)
Practical Archivist
Nifty Infographic outlining the money path from the Koch brothers to Wisconsin’s “never negotiate, never surrender” governor and Tea Party darling Scott Walker. The blogger who successfully prank called to Da Gov was impersonating billionaire David Koch. Thanks to this prank, we have him recorded as asking Fake David Koch to finance advertisements in the home districts of GOP senators, because people there are PISSED OFF. And rightly so, I might add.
View Link [cdn.other98.com]
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Pro-Union Website Blocked as Pr^n in Wisco Capitol (?!)
Practical Archivist
BREAKING WISCONSIN NEWS: Pro-Union site blocked in state capitol building. When you try to access the site you get an error with a “149 15871 block page” (I’m no techie, but the press release says they’re blocking it as if it were NSFW site…)
View Link [wisdems.org]
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Hey ‘dere, Wisconsin! What’s democracy look like?
Practical Archivist
Tea Party darling Scott Walker submitted legislation last Friday that would eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. He wanted it passed TODAY. The people at these protests are not rabid radical leftists. They are regular people (teachers, librarians, prison guards, health care workers, fire fighters, cops) who are under attack.
I don’t know any state workers who refuse to pay more into their pensions. But take away our unions without the dignity of a vote? Not without a fight.
View Link [twitpic.com]
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Dreamy stop motion animation from found objects
Practical Archivist
This delightful underwater short reminds me of one of my favorite kids books, Flotsam.
View Link [youtube.com]
Practical Archivist is discussing. 
emmdeeaych are discussing. 
Troubleshootah are discussing. 
Practical Archivist 7:09 pm on 05/19/2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Here’s a link to more info about Wisconsin’s new voter ID bill: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_ceaa2760-822c-11e0-887b-001cc4c03286.html