Walker Begs As Wisconsin Burns

Last week was another bad week for Wisconsin, with news coming that thousands of jobs would be leaving the state. To make things worse, Scott Walker and his Republican cronies were too busy shaming the poor to do anything to stop the downward spiral in which they put the state.

So Walker does what he would normally do after such a bad week - he sends out a fundraising email asking for people to bail out his campaign. Even though his campaign barely made it to 10 weeks, he still managed to end it a million dollars in the red.

Here is the email that Walker sent out sans links (a screencap of it is at the bottom of this article):

Friend,

Our race for president didn't turn out the way we wanted. While we are disappointed, there are always new ways to serve others and plenty of conservative reforms to enact in Wisconsin.

Our "Scott Walker for America" campaign may have ended, but we attracted a tremendous grassroots team of supporters. Together we share a deep and enduring commitment to getting things done, putting things right, and moving America forward.

For a kid who grew up in small-town America, whose family didn't have a lot of money, the opportunity to run for President of the United States is an experience beyond my wildest dreams and an experience I will never forget.

There are three things I want to tell you, Friend.

First, thank you for believing in me and our campaign for President.

Second, I am back in my office in the state Capitol working on our next round of big, bold, conservative reforms. We have made incredible strides in Wisconsin, but we are not done yet. Our proven reforms have been a model for other states to follow and we will continue to build upon those reforms in the months and years to come.

Third, as things changed dramatically in the presidential race, "Walker for America" incurred a campaign debt and it is my hope that you and all of our supporters will chip in and make an online contribution of $10, $35, $50, $100, $250, or more so we can end this campaign in the black. It is a lot to ask, I know, but we feel personally obligated to make sure that every small business that extended us their good faith and credit is repaid. And we are hoping we can count on you to help.

When God closes one door, another one opens. While I don't know exactly what the future holds, trust me, we will continue leading the fight for big, bold, conservative change in Wisconsin and across America.

Thanks for believing in me -- and in our cause.

Scott Walker

P.S. Every good thing in my life has come about through teamwork. Tonette, Matt, Alex, and I are so proud to have you on our team. With your good help, we will end our presidential race on a positive note with all of the bills paid. It is your contribution of $25 or $250, $50 or $500, or $100 or $1,000 that will erase every penny of outstanding debt from our campaign together. Thanks in advance for helping out. I sure appreciate it.

I love the way he says he feels personally obliged to pay off his debts with everyone else's money. Then again, that is the perfect description of how he runs the state as well, paying off his campaign donors with taxpayer money.

And is it me, or is that last line about God opening doors a not-too-subtle plea for someone to give him a new job?

What is the most egregious thing about this email is that, in what I'm sure is just pure coincidence, the Republican state senators held a special session Friday, going into the wee hours of Saturday morning, to pass laws opening the floodgates for dark money to come pouring in and to kill off the watchdog organizations that could have done something about all of the corruption. But like I said, I'm sure it's pure coincidence.

And if you believe that, Walker has got some other stuff to sell you too.

Click on image to embiggen

Hi. I'm Scott Walker and I'm Incompetent. Give Me Money.

In the past week, Scott Walker has shown time and time again that he is not ready to run with the big boys. He has presented a strong case that he can't even answer simple questions that don't match the scripted lines that he worked so hard on memorizing.

Walker has punted a question about evolution. He then fumbled when asked whether he thought President Barack Obama loved the United States. And lest we forget, Walker damn near fainted when he was asked if Obama was a Christian.

So Walker does what comes naturally to him - he tries to monetize it!

Click image to embiggen

Only to Republicans would it make sense to give $1,000 to someone for proving that they are incompetent, spineless and mindless. I guess they didn't have time to film a commercial with Walker looking forlornly into the camera while the narrator says only you can save Koch puppets from the abuse suffered at the hands of the media.

The irony of it all is simply mind boggling.

As bad as this fundraiser email is, it will never top the one he sent out on Black Friday in 2013, in which he told people to forego buying Christmas presents for their children and give him the money instead.

H/T to James Rowen at The Political Environment

Of Fundraising, Funerals And Ethics Fundamentals

A couple of weeks ago, I introduced the gentle reader to Milwaukee County Supervisor Deanna Alexander, a "rising" star among the Republicans. Alexander had gotten herself in a bit of trouble for using taxpayer dollars to help suppress the vote in Milwaukee. To make matters worse for herself, she got caught up in her lies about it.

Now Alexander is in even more hot water.

Unfortunately, her father passed away recently. And as anyone who has lost a loved one knows, funerals are expensive, even if you are making more than $50,000 a year like Alexander is.

So Alexander set up a fundraising account through www.youcaring.com.

The problem is that she advertised this account on one of her Facebook pages in which she identifies herself as a "public figure" and includes a link to her campaign website:

She's already raised over $2,000, many donations from anonymous donors, including one for $1,000:

Yeah, that's an ethics problem, as Georgia Pabst of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

According to the county ethics code: "No county public official or employee shall use his/her public position or office to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for the private benefit of himself/herself or his/her immediate family, or for an organization with which he/she is associated."

Michael Maistelman, a lawyer who specializes in election law and who has represented the campaigns of prominent Democrats, said it appears Alexander is using her position for private gain.

"The question is would she be getting donations if she were not an elected public official," he said. "Would donations be made, or are they being made, because of who she is and her position."

With campaign contributions, contributors must give their name, address, employer and report the amount to make sure there's transparency, he said. Candidates must periodically file campaign finance reports that make that information public.

With an anonymous contribution, he said, someone could legitimately question whether there has been a violation of the public trust. That donor could be trying to get something from the county, but you don't know, Maistelman said.

To make this whole sordid affair even more sickening, she is using her office to raise funds for her father's funeral even as she voted to deny funding for indigent burials. (Over 300 families in Milwaukee County use indigent burial funds every year.)

As with most Republicans, she figures that as long she gets hers, that's all that matters and the screw the poor if they think they should get any type of help.

The good news is that Alexander won't get a free pass like she did with the voter suppression newsletters. A group called One Wisconsin Now has filed a formal complaint against Alexander:

"The law is clear and must be enforced," said Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, in filing the complaint. "No elected official can use their status to raise personal funds, regardless of the circumstances."

Any anonymous gifts through the YouCaring.com site would make it difficult for the public to know who may be giving to Alexander and to determine if individuals with business before the county may be attempting to influence her, the complaint states.

Cross posted at Crooks and Liars

Scott Walker is Against Racism (sometimes)!

By Jeff Simpson

Recently, Capper broke the story of how Scott Walker wanted the people of Wisconsin to send him the money they had planned on spending on their children during Black Friday shopping.   Captain ego approved the fundraising email, because really who in the Walker world would not want to send their extra money to further Scott Walker's career?  (Well except for Taylor Palmisano who wrote the email, she WANTS your gifts.  Do not send money intended for her to Scott Walker please, take it to Macy's and buy her stuff) 

Well thanks to Capper, the true depth of Scott Walker's ego, and self centeredness went global.   Scott of course can not have any of that so he threw his favorite intern under the bus.   Palmisano had some 3 year old racist tweets on her profile and Scott Walker was not going to have that in his campaign. 

"Taylor Palmisano has been immediately removed from her position with the Friends of Scott Walker campaign," said spokesman Jonathan Wetzel. "Both the Governor, and the campaign, condemn these insulting remarks which do not reflect our views in any way."

 Scott Walker condemns remarks made three years ago, he is so against racism that he is going to veto the Steve nASS Racist Mascot Protection Bill, to remain consistent. 

O wait:

"If it were me, personally, I'd find a way to move away from nicknames or mascots that certain groups of our fellow citizens seriously found to be offensive," Walker said during an interview Tuesday at the governor's mansion along Lake Mendota.
Walker's fellow Republicans passed a bill this fall that would make it much harder for the state to order schools to change race-based team names and mascots.
Walker has until Thursday to sign or veto the measure; if he does nothing, it will automatically become law then. Walker said he would not allow the measure to go into law on its own, saying he would approve or reject it by the deadline.
He said he empathized with those who are offended by Indian team names, but cast the ability of schools to choose their team names as a First Amendment right.
"I get the concern" of opponents, Walker said. "But the counterbalance to that that I'm looking at is, by the same token, from a free speech standpoint...where do you draw the line on free speech?"
"While I may not like or necessarily approve of others' speech, where do you draw the line to say, 'It's OK to do things that you like but not that you don't?'" he said.

Apparently he used up his offense at insulting remarks, and has no intention on remaining consistent.   Besides, we all know exactly how he feels about "free speech"

Now that Scott Walker is running for President(stop laughing), he is trying to have it both ways.  He does not think we should use racist mascots but he will sign a bill making it impossible to change them.   Everyone wins!  

It is NOT too late though 

Contact Scott Walker and tell him to veto the Racist Mascot Preservation Bill 

Twitter:  @ScottWalker 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/scottwalkerforgovernor

Phone:  (608) 266-1212

 H/T Shane for the helmet image! 

The Walker-Grinch That Stole Christmas

First I thought it was bad when Walmart thought it would be a good idea to hold a food drive for their own employees instead of just paying them a living wage.

Then McDonald's comes along and tells their employees to sell off their Christmas gifts so that they can pay their bills.  They also told their workers to cut up their food into little bits to make it last longer.  They, like Walmart, will do anything to help their employees as long as it doesn't require paying them a living wage or giving them benefits.

But these two can't hold a candle to Scott Walker.

Walker's campaign sent out a fundraising email on Friday that really takes the cake (emphasis mine):

Friend,

Instead of venturing into the cold this Black Friday, stay in and give your children a gift that will keep on giving.

This year, we are celebrating the Holiday Season with a Black Friday special that is better than any deal found in stores. Donate $5, $10 or $25 to help Governor Walker get reelected and save your children from a future of double-digit tax increases and billion dollar budget deficits.

Instead of electronics or toys that will undoubtedly be outdated, broken, or lost by the next Holiday Season, help give your children the gift of a Wisconsin that we can all be proud of. Governor Walker is helping Wisconsin move forward to a future where your children and grandchildren can experience:

• Economic Prosperity
• Improved Schools
• Freedom From Government Dependence

The Governor wants his sons to grow up in a Wisconsin as great as the one he grew up in. When asked why he never stopped fighting for Wisconsin during the Recall, Governor Walker says he has two reasons, his sons Matt and Alex.

With your help, Governor Walker is enacting reforms that are securing a strong state for the future of Wisconsin’s children. This Black Friday, donate $5, $10 or $25 to help Governor Walker win reelection so he can continue to help Wisconsin move forward.

A strong Wisconsin is the best gift you can give.

Respectfully,

Taylor Palmisano
Friends of Scott Walker

Yes, you read that correctly.

Walker is telling people to not bother buying their children any Christmas presents. Instead, they should give the money that they would have spent on their children and give it to Walker's campaign.

And what would Walker do with that money? Besides using it to jet around the country schmoozing the big money campaign contributors who would help him buy another election and pay for his legal cooperation fund, not much.

And if he were to be reelected again, you can count on him making life even worse for our children. He would finish privatizing education, he would kick more kids off of Badger Care and he would loosen child labor laws.

Nothing shows the Christmas spirit like denying your kids their gifts so that you can give the money to someone who would only screw them over again.

I wouldn't be surprised if Walker comes out with another book soon - a spin off of A Christmas Carol.  Except in Walker's version, Bob Cratchett sells Tiny Tim's crutch and gives the money to Scrooge.

ADDENDUM: There are some people that are questioning the veracity of the email cited in this post.  To belay those concerns, here is a screen capture of the email.  Note at the bottom where it cites that it is being paid for by the Friends of Scott Walker:

Aid For The Philippines

As the gentle reader is aware, a super typhoon struck the Philippines earlier this month, causing nightmarish amounts of damage and claimed over 5,000 lives.

Rescue efforts began right away, but the level of damage is so high that they will continue to need help.

One of my dearest friends in Madison, Marivic Valencia, was part of fundraiser for the rescue effort last week:



Despite the short time they took in getting things together, they were able to raise more than a $1,000 that night.

Per Marivic, if one would still like to help, there is a Madison-based group, the Philippine-American Association of Madison & Neighboring Areas (PAMANA) which is still taking collections.  Their Facebook page can be found here.

Cucciker? Walkinelli?

 

By Jeff Simpson

Scott Walker this weekend is doing the one thing he has mastered since becoming Governor of Wisconsin - leaving the state to campaign.   This time, its for one of the more extreme right wing people you have ever seen - Ken Cuccinelli.  

Cuccinelli is sort of a combination, if you took all of the bad from Steve nASS, Andre JAcque and Glenn Grothman and then took a step to the right!

Let's take a quick peek at Cuccinelli(since that is about all anyone can handle):

He is amazed that God has not punished America more for allowing abortion:

But in his speech to the Christian Life Summit last year -- unearthed Monday night by NBC12 -- Cuccinelli said he is surprised that God has not yet "imposed" more judgment on America for allowing abortion to be legal.
"Really, given that God does judge nations, it's amazing that abortion has run as far and foully as it has, without what I would consider to be a greater imposition of judgment on this country," Cuccinelli said. "Who knows what the future holds?"
Cuccinelli also criticized the Catholic church for its "soft and weak" leadership on social issues.

Has declared war on oral sex:

 Ken Cuccinelli wants to keep kids safe from sexual predators by banning oral and anal sex—between consenting adults. On a website his campaign just launched, Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for governor in Virginia, paints himself as the only real protector of children, because of his efforts as Virginia attorney general to reinstate a law banning all naked fun-time acts besides vaginal intercourse

And Hates the LGBT community:

 Politico reports on how Cuccinelli responded to a question by moderator Judy Woodruff in which she asked if he still agreed that homosexuality was “against nature and harmful to society":

“My personal beliefs about the personal challenges of homosexuality haven’t changed,” he said at one point. “What I want to do as governor is create an environment, including an economic environment, where every Virginian has the opportunity to succeed.”

“The notion that because I believe marriage ought to be protected, because I believe life begins at conception — just like hundreds of thousands of independents and Democrats — this isn’t just me, it isn’t just Republicans,” he said. “There are lots of Virginians, millions, perhaps, of Virginians, who share my sincerely held beliefs.”

With a guy this far to the right, no wonder Scott Walker is spending our taxpayer money and heading out of town to campaign for him.  When you align in goals so closely, why not help his good friend win?

There is only one problem though!   The Virginia republican party worries that Scott Walker will make Cuccinelli look bad because he is so extreme and divisive! 

Walker, the Wisconsin governor, will make two stops with Cuccinelli on Saturday. He is popular on the right for taking on unions in a blue state and then beating back a recall, but his trip risks giving Democrats an opening to argue that Cuccinelli will govern in a similarly divisive way. McAuliffe promises a bipartisan cabinet and a knack for deal-making.

 

 

Wisconsin GOP Endorses Mary Burke!

By Jeff Simpson

 No sooner did Mary Burke announce her run for Governor of Wisconsin and within minutes the Wisconsin GOP endorsed her!

The Wisconsin GOP has bought the rights to www.maryburke.com and put up a website where they endorsed Ms. Burke.   While it is somewhat surprising, Scott Walker's failed leadership has cost this state greatly so it is not without precedent.

Here is one of the keystones of their website, directly from the WI GOP:

 We don’t need someone trying to buy the Governor’s office.

Considering that:

*  In 2010 Scott Walker spent almost $25,000,000 to win the Governor's race.

*  in 2012 Scott Walker and his masters spent almost $59,000,000 to win the recall race. 

* Currently Scott Walker is criss crossing the US and fundraising in record numbers for the 2014 Gubernatorial race.  

It is nice that finally, after we elected a Governor whose main policy was this:

That we can start out the fall with bipartisan agreement.

Both the GOP and The Wisconsin Democratic Party agree -

Scott Walker must not be allowed to buy the Governors office again!   

Tell @wisgop thank you and you appreciate them coming to their senses!