Friday, August 31, 2012

Republican Thugs - Fox News Followers

Example # 53725364992542 - the craziness is NOT equal, to say it happens on both sides, diminishes and excuses the completely insanity of the current right wing!

This from Florida

A Florida man "obsessed with Fox News and the Republican party" felt that his girlfriend was too "liberal" -- so he decided he had to kill her.

Police arrested David Kappheim, of Lake Park, on Saturday after the 60-year-old threatened a woman's life because of her supposed political orientation, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The report recounts several incidents in which Kappheim allegedly arrived "stark naked" at the home of his girlfriend's friend, choked his girlfriend and told her that he would "kill her and burn her home," the Palm Beach Post reports.

Kappheim explained to a sheriff’s deputy, “He was very conservative, and his girlfriend was liberal and he felt he was going to have kill her," according to the arrest affidavit, according to WPTV.
Earlier this week, Kappheim reportedly “laughed out loud" when his girlfriend said that his reckless driving was scaring her.

Kappheim is charged with domestic battery, aggravated assault and criminal mischief, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's website says.

STOP excusing this, voting for this, explaining it and defending it please or someone is going to get killed!   Please someone in the republican party who is sane, speak up and take your party back!!!!    

Can Some One Please Explain

Since the Republicans in Wisconsin are now National Heroes and so cocky,

Why do they need to redistrict secretly and unethically, pass unconstitutional and incredibly expensive voter suppression bills,  and lie everytime they give a speech?

Shouldn't they be able to just run on their personality, character and ideas?

Answer here!









Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch Is No Bigot

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, along with most of the top Republicans of the state, has been in Tampa all week at the Republican National Convention.*

For whatever reason, Politico thought it would be appropriate to get her opinion of Condoleeza Rice, who gave a speech at the convention. (Her speech, by the way, was in a more prominent time slot and was better received than Scott Walker's.)

Anyway, Kleefisch could not stop gushing about Rice, but in a less than flattering way:
“There aren’t enough exclamation points to say how I’d feel if she ran in 2016,” said Wisconsin Lt Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. “Her story [of being raised in the segregated South] is so inspiring. She could have just shrugged her shoulders and accepted mediocrity like others around her probably did.”

"Like others around her?!" Really?! She's inferring that the other African Americans are lazy or unmotivated? If she wants another prime example of someone who doesn't accept mediocrity, I would remind her of Mahlon Mitchell. He tried to rid the the state of mediocrity and even worse.

Given that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan embody the same type of inherent racism, is it any wonder that recent polls show a full 0% of African Americans are going to vote for them?

At least Kleefisch's racist statement wasn't as egregious as her comment about gay marriage and gay rights was:
“This is a slippery slope. At what point are we going to OK marrying inanimate objects?” Kleefisch stated in the radio interview. “Can I marry this table? This clock? Can we marry dogs? This is ridiculous and biblically again I’m going to go back to my fundamental Christian beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman, and no matter what you say, the people in Wisconsin have spoken on this issue.”

Kleefisch later apologized for her "poor choice of words." But she was only sorry for the words. The underlying bigotry and hatred, she was just fine with.

Now if she utters something that is anti-Hispanic or misogynistic, then we would have concrete proof that Kleefisch is no bigot. She'll have proven that she hates everyone equally.

*It shows you how little Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch matter. They're both gone all week seemingly leaving no one in charge. But we all know that the special corporate interests who have been in charge for the past two years can run the show without their puppets.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

RNC = Really Nonsenable Crap

Okay, admittedly I haven't been watching much RNC coverage. Mostly because I don't feel like having aneurysm, but from what I've been able to stomach reading in the news, it's been nothing but a dunce fest. A gathering of the world's smallest minds. Honestly, what else did we expect?

Oh, Paul Ryan. The man has turned LYING into a sport. Seriously. He's giving Scott Walker a run for his money! I read over his speech from last night, and my god, I can't believe he even had the guts to say any of it. What does it say about a person who is so power hungry that they'd rather let history remember them as lying scum who sold their souls, then lose an election? It's really pathetic. I can't really understand how he keeps getting re-elected. Rights come from God? Government doesn't create jobs? Come again? Government doesn't create jobs, but his Tea Party ilk rode into congress in 2010 on the promise of job creation. You can't make this stuff up! And what's worse is GOP supporters. The people being duped. They're willingly being led. They don't care. They don't want to care. They approve of this kind of behavior from their elected leaders and why? Because they don't know how to think for themselves. They willingly let themselves be led astray.

Romney and Ryan have people who genuinely believe in their message. Am I the only one that finds this terribly frightening?

I read that tonight, Romney is going to chide Obama for his lack of foreign policy skills (LOL) I guess banking in different countries to avoid paying taxes is considered foreign policy experience by the GOP. Giving the go ahead to take down the world's most wanted man? the terrorist behind the 3,000+ murdered people on September 11th? Yeah, that's nothing. That's garbage. Obama doesn't know diddly about foreign policy! OH WAIT, YEAH HE DOES.

Romney/Ryan 2012 - Because Fox News told you to vote for 'em.

Merry Christmas 2008

FU Paul Ryan and your band of blind followers!

The Shadows That Loom Over The RNC

So the Republican National Convention goes on like a grotesque calliope, building up with a crescendo for the grand finale on Thursday when Mitt Romney is to give his speech and opening up the flood gates for the din and cacophony coming at us for the next sixty-some days.

Like any staged production, which this convention is, there are a lot of bright lights, special effects and choreographed stunts. But once one looks past the bright lights and past the smoke and the mirrors, and start looking at the things the Republicans don't want you to see, you see that their show is nothing more than an expensive facade. And as any stagehand could tell you, behind those bright lights, there are shadows.

The shadows which loom over the RNC are larger than life and have the Republicans terrified. ;Oh, they would never admit it, but their behaviors give them away.

The first shadows over the RNC came in the form of Hurricane Isaac.

The Republicans gave themselves away on the days leading up to the convention, when there was concern that Tampa might be in the storms path. All one heard was that the Republicans were afraid that the news of the hurricane might upstage their own production. Not one fret was given for the people that might be hurt or killed in the storm, but only on how it would impact them and their agenda. This was the ultimate White Whine.

It turned out that Isaac was the shadow which was cast by George W. Bush and his date from several years ago, Katrina. Ironically, Isaac hit New Orleans and the gulf on the anniversary of Katrina's landfall. And like those seven years ago, the conventioneers echoed Bush by not giving a damn about the victims, but just wanted to keep on partying.

And related to and mingling with George's and Katrina's shadows, there is the shadow of Jim Crow and all the racism he brings with him. Do you think it's mere coincidence that the Republicans don't care about the people in the hurricane's paths, then or now? Let's not forget that these are the same people that are trumpeting their false concern of voter fraud in order to justify their voter suppression.

We have already seen that the Republicans will be playing the race card as one of their major planks, by the behaviors of their nominee and of their party leader. With leadership like that, it's not at all surprising that the rank and file felt that it was appropriate to start throwing nuts at African American camerawoman working for CNN and yelling, "This is the way we feed animals."?

The next shadow, and one of the two biggest ones, is being cast by Todd Akin. Akin, of course, is the buffoon who made the moronic comment about how women can't get pregnant from rape because their bodies automatically stop the fertilization process. It didn't take long for there to be many examples of the misogyny of the right, including their vice-presidential nominee, Paul Ryan.

I found it laughable how the Republicans were taking great pains to show just how much they are not a large groups of misogynists and racists by saying how much they just love women and blacks. They did everything short of uttering the phrase, "Some of my best friends are women and/or blacks." The fact is, if they were really friendly to minorities and to women, they wouldn't have to tell people because their behaviors would reflect that. The way they are over-hyping their inclusiveness only serves to point out that there is none.

It is this over-hyping behavior that pointed out another huge shadow over the convention. In fact, the pieces didn't fall together until today, when the usual suspects inadvertently pointed it out by trying to hide it.

The shadow they were trying to hide belonged to our old friend, John Doe.

The GOP mouthpieces disguised as radio squawkers and bloggers were taking great pains to point out how "popular" Scott Walker was at the convention. Charlie Sykes repeatedly pointed out that Walker got two standing ovations. Every radio personality and/or journalist for the Walker-loving Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and/or blogger has been swooning about the "Cheddarhead" movement which included Walker, Reince Priebus and Paul Ryan.

Like I said, their overextension of Walker's supposed popularity made me wonder what they were trying to keep people from seeing.

That answer came shortly when Sykes attacked Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm, twice even, regarding the John Doe investigation into former Supervisor Johnny Thomas and trying to tie it into Walkergate, the John Doe investigation into Walker, his campaign and his former staffers. This attack was repeated by Jeff Wagner, who only revealed either a gross misunderstanding of the law and/or that he is just a plain, flat out liar.

That's when things started to click together.

First, look at their hype of Walker's supposed popularity and his status as a rising star and rock star of the Republicans.

Walker, as he is fond of repeatedly pointing out, is the only governor in the history of the nation to survive a recall attempt. (We'll discuss the legitimacy of either of his election victories at another time.) He became the darling of the teahadists when he was able to tank the state's economy by removing a large amount of the state's money from circulation and redistributing it among his wealthiest campaign donors. No wonder he's so popular, right?

Yet, despite his alleged popularity, he was given only seven minutes on an off night when everyone's attention was on the keynote speakers of Governor Chris Christie and Ann Romney. Heck, they didn't even announce his appearance until days after the keynote speakers had been named. When Walker was finally announced, it was with a lot of other minor players.

Not exactly the way one would treat a superstar, is it?

By all accounts on the left and right, Walker's speech was pedestrian and barely functional. Many described him as flat and not very inspirational at all. I had heard some opine that it was because he wasn't the center of attention and that he's not much of a team player.

But what if Walker's poor showing was because there was something else occupying his mind and making him worried? And I don't think that something was his failings as a job creator or his failure to reduce the deficit, balance the budget or keep taxes down.

Now, let's not forget that Tim Russell had to get himself a public defender, and it appeared that a plea bargain might be in the works for that case. Could it be that such a deal is imminent or even already made?

I haven't heard or seen anything that would confirm that something else is about to pop in the ongoing Walkergate investigation. But judging by the increased level of worrying by Walker and his supporters and their need to lay the ground work for a defense of Walker by making him seem more popular than his is and libeling the investigation, and the obvious attempts by the Republicans to separate themselves from Walker, it would seem like there is a good chance of something coming down and coming soon.

Now wouldn't that make a lovey Labor Day present?

Paul Ryan & Scott Walker Disgust Me!

When the Janesville GM Plant closed it ended an era that went back to the original opening of the plant in 1919! It's official closing date was December 23, 2008 - Merry Christmas Janesville!

President Obama while elected in a landslide November 2008, was Inaugerated January 21st, 2009.


Paul Ryan (R-Wall St.) even knows the hard times that the closing heaped on the city and surrounding  area's because he supposedly has many "friends" affected.  

 A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: “I believe that if our government is there to support you … this plant will be here for another hundred years.”  That’s what he said in 2008. Well, as it turned out, that plant didn’t last another year.  It is locked up and empty to this day.  And that’s how it is in so many towns today, where the recovery that was promised is nowhere in sight.
 Yes do the math and read the quote and you realize what an incredible POS Paul Ryan really is!   The closing of that plant severely effected many families.   The Pure devastation to some families is documented in the film As Goes Janesville










All of the pain and suffering that that plant closed and now Paul Ryan is lying about it and using it as a way to gain political capital. That shows the complete disdain he has for the middle class, and the people of the 1st congressional district.
To make matters worse, his good friend and political sell out Scott Walker, couldn't wait to throw the people of Janesville under the bus also and help his good friend Pink Slip Paul out. However he made a major mistake when we stepped to the mic with Rachel Maddow who is far and away his intellectual superior:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



Sorry Scooter your not on Fox & Friends anymore!

The complete lack of morals and character that allows them to lie about something so important to the people of Wisconsin shows that they are even worse people and have worse character than I ever imagined! They disgust me!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Paul Ryan - Career Politician

According to his brother who always thought one day that Paul would get a real job.




Why work for a living when you have figured out a way to become rich on the taxpayers dime? Let them do your work for you!

Note To Romney: You Didn't Build That - You Destroyed It

We Are Wisconsin And We Are Going To Vote In November

This video was put out this afternoon by AFSCME, in advance of the Scott Walker's speech at the Republican convention:



The fight is no where near over, no matter how much the Republicans and their corporate overlords wish we would give up and be good little thralls.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Paul rAYN

The Brilliant John Fugelsang:



Follow him on twitter: @johnfugelsang

Follow us also: @jeffSimpson7 & @Cog_Dis

Some Oddities In Latest RGA Ad

The Republican Governors Association has an video touting the Republican governors that are at the Republican convention this year. But there are some things about the ad that are rather odd about it:



The third oddest thing is that they are touting Governor Luis Fortuño of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico doesn't have delegates and aren't allowed to vote. Is he the token person of color for the convention?

The second oddest thing is that they don't have Scott Walker saying anything. For that matter, he was added to the convention list of speakers as an afterthought and definitely does not have even third rate billing for the event. Is this because while the propagandists in Wisconsin try to pump him up as a rock star, people are afraid to be associated too closely to him because of his failure to create jobs, his dictatorial rule leading to protests wherever he goes or the fact that John Doe is breathing down Walker's next and they are slowly trying to step as far away from him as they can so they don't get sucked down with him?

But the oddest thing about the ad is that they have not one positive thing to say about Romney. Well, that's not odd, because there really aren't any positives to Romney's campaign, considering almost a third of Republicans wish someone else was their nominee.

"Koch Industries is just a terrible, terrible citizen"

Kansas State Senator Tim Owens is a moderate Republican that was unseated thanks in a large part by the Koch Brothers and their teahadist group, Americans for (Koch's) Prosperity. The Kochs, as you already know, bankrolls AFP to attack anyone and everyone who they see as a threat, like Owens.

Owens did an interview with David Weigel of Slate and here is what he said of the Kochs and AFP:
Slate: But I'm curious, did the Kansas Chamber or any of the groups that opposed you try to work on you before spending money in the election?

Owens: They wrote me off early on. They went after the eight moderates they saw as impediments. And the challengers were backed very strongly by the Americans for Prosperity. I don't know if you've heard of them, but they basically have an anti-tax philosophy. They were started by Koch Industries and the Koch brothers, that's where the money comes from against us. The local Chambers are wholly owned by Koch Industries and AFP.

Slate: But Koch Industries is a Kansas-based company that ostensibly provides jobs in Kansas, pays taxes in Kansas.

Owens: Sure, but they are absolutely opposed to taxes. If it were up to them they'd want us to do away with all taxes and leave them alone. They may be a Kansas business, they may be the biggest company run by a single family, but they need to be asking the question "What can we do for Kansas?" and not "What can Kansas do for us?" Koch Industries is just a terrible, terrible citizen as far as I'm concerned. I think Koch Industries has done a major disservice to the state of Kansas.
More significantly is what the Koch agenda will do to Kansas if they are allowed to continue unchecked:
Slate: And you were targeted, at least in part, because you opposed the tax plan. Why did you oppose it?

Owens: I've seen projections that say we'd be at a $2.7 billion in five years if we cut taxes too deeply. We have a constiutional mandate in Kansas that we have to balance the budget. if we're $2.7 billion in the hole, we either have to go back and raise taxes, which the new senators won't do, or we have to cut the programs. What do you cut in Kansas, where 67% of the budget is K-12 or higher ed? You're talking about higher ed taking a huge hit, and I suppose you're expecting private or parochical school to fill the gap. But Kansas right now is sixth in the nation for quality of public education. The theory, as I understand it, will be that businesses will bring enough new jobs to Kansas to make up the difference in funding. But if part of his tax plan is to eliminate income tax, it's not gonna make a lot of difference, is it? Do they raise the property tax instead? The whole theory is haywire.
Gee, doesn't that sound like what's going on in Fitzwalkerstan?

Keep Creationism Away From the Children!






Get these guys to West Bend Pronto!

Tin Soldiers, Tin Badges

Last week, I pointed out that rights are becoming rather scarce in Fitzwalkerstan, especially the right of Free Speech.

Not only is the constitutional right to Free Speech becoming increasingly scarce, but the brownshirts are getting downright violent to anyone who tries to exercise it.

In Madison, the new commandant of the Capital Police, Dave Erwin, is already trying to make a name for himself by cracking down on peaceful protesters. Because you know, people singing about workers rights is a threat to our society or something like that.

And how far is Erwin willing to go to return "normalcy" to the Capitol? Well, as far as condoning violence, apparently with or without just cause:
Erwin recently met with legislative aides who were feeling threatened or intimidated by protesters who have come into the aides' offices to berate them and have followed them to their cars. He suggested they try filming a demonstrator and, if that didn't work, punching the person with their free hand.

"I said if it wasn't working you could try to hit them," Erwin said.

Rep. Brett Hulsey (D-Madison) had a person in his office with a box cutter in the spring of 2011 and said he thought it was a good idea that Capitol police are having panic buttons installed in some legislative offices so staff could call police in an emergency.

But after talking with several aides who were in the meeting with Erwin, Hulsey said it was bizarre advice to recommend hitting someone with police nearby. He said several Democratic aides left the meeting early because they were taken aback by Erwin's suggestion.

"I was kind of amazed by that," Hulsey said.
But Madison isn't the only place with this new breed of stormtrooper.

In Milwaukee, under the auspices of the Cowboy Sheriff, David Clarke, there has been an incident of violence by a deputy against an innocent Overpass Light Brigade protester.

From the press release issued by Voces de la Frontera and the OLB is a description of the course of events:
Milwaukee police arrived at the bridge around 9:00 pm, after supporters had been holding lights reading "PALERMOS - NEGOTIATE" for about an hour. The first MPD responders stated they had been called to the bridge by the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Department. They stated that they were unsure as to why they had been called, and waited for the Sheriffs Department to show up.

Deputy Callies of the Sheriff's Department soon arrived and immediately stormed on to the bridge, which was filled with striking Palermo workers and their families holding signs, including several young children. Around 30 people were present in total, including many community supporters. Deputy Callies demanded that the lights be taken down and turned off. He then stated loudly that he would be arresting everyone on the bridge for disorderly conduct.

At this point, close to twenty police vehicles had arrived or were en route (witnesses counted one paddy wagon, two bicycle police, two motorcycle police, six Milwaukee police squads, including a K-9 unit, and nine Milwaukee County Sheriff vehicles). Lisa Moline of OLB tried to reason with Deputy Callies, who grew more and more agitated that he was being challenged on the constitutionality of his order to shut the message down.

As the video clearly captures, Deputy Callies then turned around lunged at a woman who was videotaping his tirade. He forcibly reached for her camera, pushing himself into her (most likely realizing she had just captured his entire episode digitally). In the process, he grabbed the woman’s arm and ripped the camera phone out of her hand, giving no explanation for the confiscation, despite pleading efforts from the woman as to why her camera phone was stolen. He then tore another supporter's phone away in the exact same manner. Click here for videos of the above incident.

Eventually more officers arrived on the bridge. Many of the MPD officers seemed uncomfortable with the actions of Deputy Callies, and once he left the bridge, one officer told supporters they could go back onto the bridge with the lights, and that it was “all a misunderstanding". By that point, many supporters were intimidated by the Sheriff department's actions and had already left.

The OLB has had countless visits by numerous local law enforcement agencies during their bridge actions of the past nine months. They have always been calm and civil, and have repeatedly resulted in the reaffirmation of the legality of their actions. Office Callies' aggressive response is the single exception to this respectful relationship.

Voces de la Frontera and OLB will be filing a Freedom of Information Act request to determine the process for which orders were given for Friday's action to be broken up- and why this particular message led to this particular response. Additional charges against Deputy Callies are currently being filed by the woman whose hand was injured when he grabbed her cell phone.

We are also asking the many elected officials who have endorsed and supported Voces and OLB actions in the past to demand a public investigation of this unacceptable violation of freedom of speech.
And from the website for Occupy Riverwest is some raw footage of the assault:



Fortunately, despite the Republicans' best efforts, we are still a land of laws, and their attempt at totalitarian rule is not working. The people involved with the Milwaukee incident have filed a complaint against the deputy in question and have filed open records requests to find out who gave which orders and when. Likewise, in Madison, the ACLU is ready to step in and teach Chief Erwin an expensive lesson on the Constitution.

As the saying goes, it's hard to keep a good man down. And Wisconsin is chock full of good men and women that won't stay down and won't stay silenced until we have our state back.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Abele: Referendum Is Like A Facebook Poll

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele is becoming a greater embarrassment with each passing day.

Now he compares voting in an election is like voting on a Facebook poll.

Priebus: Racist Comment Is Levity

Chris Matthews, who needs a fashion consultant, knows some serious verbal judo and he used it to wail all over the racist, smug, little man, Reince Priebus:


Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Unsurprisingly, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel doesn't cover even a fraction of the story with this little blurb:
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and talk show host Chris Matthews mixed it up Monday on MSNBC, with Matthews accusing Republicans of "playing the race card" in campaigning against President Barack Obama. Priebus, Wisconsin's former Republican Party chairman, said he and other Republican leaders have chastised "birthers" who have questioned whether Obama was born in the United States. He added: "But I think Obama's policies have created a sense that for whatever reason, he's looking to guidance as far as health care is concerned, as far as our spending is concerned, as far as the stimulus packages are concerned, he's looking to Europe for guidance."
Not one mention of the fact that Priebus was calling racist comments as "moments of levity" or the fact that Matthews laid the smack down by pointing out the long line of presidents who had pushed for health care reforms.

But remember, they are the "liberal" media.

Republicans Have Total Disdain for Women

No wonder some people think the GOP are set to take over in November....everything they say is perfectly sane ........for 1812.

First off Paul Ryan thinks that rape is just another way to get pregnant.... Then there is Pennsylvania GOP Senatorial candidate Tom Smith:


Finally there is this blast from the past who used to be a sane moderate voice in the republican party, but

now is nowhere to be seen!

 


You can also check out the siren for more on Paul Ryan!

American Taliban!

This could be the best, most honest two minutes in all of television!



  


See Also Voter Fraud is a Problem!

Voter Fraud Is A Problem!

When Republicans vote!   

There has been a nationwide(Koch Brothers Sponsored)push to enact restrictive voter ID laws throughout the Country. Luckily our restrictive voter ID laws, have been stopped by the courts. Despite J B Van Hollen's insistence on disenfranchising Wisconsin voters.  

Now, after an exhaustive study, we find out that the republicans perpetual claims of massive voter fraud is pure unadulterated bullshit!   

voter fraud in general is rare. And that particular form of voter fraud is "virtually non-existent," according to the extensive public-records search conducted by News21, a nonpartisan investigative news project funded by the Carnegie and Knight foundations. Researchers filed more than 2,000 public-records requests and reviewed nearly 5,000 court documents, official records and media reports to get their information.

They identified 2,068 alleged cases of voter fraud since the year 2000, a period during which there have been more than 600 million votes cast in presidential elections alone. That, the study noted, is an "infinitesimal amount." It also showed a total of 10 cases of in-person voter fraud during that period.

10 cases of in-person voter fraud in more than 600 million votes cast!!!  Let that sink in.  But wait there is more!


The News21 analysis of its election fraud database shows:
  • In-person voter-impersonation fraud is rare. The database shows 207 cases of other types of fraud for every case of voter impersonation.
“The fraud that matters is the fraud that is organized. That’s why voter impersonation is practically non-existent because it is difficult to do and it is difficult to pull people into conspiracies to do it,” said Lorraine Minnite, professor of public policy and administration at Rutgers University.
  • There is more fraud in absentee ballots and voter registration than any other categories. The analysis shows 491 cases of absentee ballot fraud and 400 cases of registration fraud. A required photo ID at the polls would not have prevented these cases.
“The one issue I think is potentially important, though more or less ignored, is the overuse of absentee balloting, which provides far more opportunity for fraud and intimidation than on-site voter fraud,” said Daniel Lowenstein, a UCLA School of Law professor.
  • Of reported election-fraud allegations in the database whose resolution could be determined, 46 percent resulted in acquittals, dropped charges or decisions not to bring charges.
Minnite says prosecutions are rare. “You have to be able to show that people knew what they were doing and they knew it was wrong and they did it anyway,” she said. “It may be in the end they (prosecutors) can’t really show that the people who have cast technically illegal ballots did it on purpose.”
  • Felons or noncitizens sometimes register to vote or cast votes because they are confused about their eligibility. The database shows 74 cases of felons voting and 56 cases of noncitizens voting.
  • Voters make a lot of mistakes, from accidentally voting twice to voting in the wrong precinct.
  • Election officials make a lot of mistakes, from clerical errors — giving voters ballots when they’ve already voted — to election workers confused about voters’ eligibility requirements.
 Their final result?

 Voter fraud at the polls is an insignificant aspect of American elections,” said elections expert David Schultz, professor of public policy at Hamline University School of Business in St. Paul, Minn.

“There is absolutely no evidence that (voter impersonation fraud) has affected the outcome of any election in the United States, at least any recent election in the United States,” Schultz said.
The problem with Professor Schultz, is he has not extensively studied the republican party!

Right here in Wisconsin, we know that powerful republican Robin Vos's third ex-wife, was recently caught voting in WI(during the recall election, when she was still married toVos),  despite the fact she is currently a resident of Idaho.

Secondly we have the video of Joel Kleefisch running down the line and voting for whoever is not around.


Then of course we have Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan buying votes at Cousins subs.


Let's also not forget the red state of Indiana, where Indiana Republican Secretary of State Charlie White was convicted on SIX counts of voter fraud!

White, a Republican, was accused of lying about his home address on voter registration forms in order to continue receiving a stipend for serving on his town's council. To comply with state law requiring the removal of convicted felons from office, Gov. Mitch Daniels, a fellow Republican, appointed White's deputy as an interim replacement.
  The irony is that White has been an outspoken defender of controversial voter identification laws, which are purportedly aimed at stamping out the kind of fraud he was found guilty of committing.


Finally, Mitt is no stranger to voter fraud, himself.  Since he committed it himself when he voted in some Massachusett's election.



Of course while the republicans continue to pretend they are just worried about everyone's vote being counted we know that is flat out not true!

How do we know it isn't true?

They keep telling us!    From the OHIO GOP Election official Doug Preisse: 


I guess I really actually feel we shouldn’t contort the voting process to accommodate the urban — read African-American — voter-turnout machine. Let’s be fair and reasonable.


To Wisconsin's own, and one of the founders of the "tea party" movement Paul Weyrich!!!







It appears the best way to save the integrity of our elections are to keep republicans away from the polls!


How Do You Spell Misogynist? R-Y-A-N

My colleagues Jeff and Meg pointed out the ways that Paul Ryan has utter disdain for women. (Meg actually did it twice.)

Now there is a comprehensive list of the misogynistic laws support and/or sponsored by Ryan. The list was compiled by Sandra Fluke, the woman who Rush Limbaugh called a slut and only apologized after enough companies pulled out their advertising money from his show. The list reads thus:
Maybe that’s not surprising: Ryan’s record on women’s issues is so far outside the mainstream that many find it unbelievable.  Here are just a few of the anti-women votes Ryan has cast: 
 • Ryan voted for a bill referred to as the “Let Women Die Bill” because it proposed to allow hospitals to refuse a woman emergency abortion care, even if her life was in immediate danger. Currently, a federally funded hospital is required to provide at least enough care for a patient to be stabilized so that she doesn’t die and can be transferred to another hospital. The bill Ryan voted for meant that hospitals wouldn’t even have had to do that.  
• Ryan co-sponsored a federal personhood bill. That bill declared a fertilized egg that hasn’t even resulted in a pregnancy to be the equivalent of a living person, with all of the rights of federal law. As a result, aspects of in vitro fertilization procedures and some forms of contraception would be criminalized, as would operations to save a woman’s life in the case of dangerous ectopic pregnancies that cannot be carried to term.
• Ryan repeatedly over several years voted against bills to ensure women equal pay for equal work, even voting against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.  
• Ryan voted to cut off Title X family planning programs that ensure impoverished and low-wage women affordable access to contraception as well as mammograms and cancer-screenings. 
• Ryan’s budget attacks on Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and a broad range of social services (including child care, Head Start, job training, Pell Grants, housing and energy assistance) would disproportionately harm women’s economic wellbeing. That’s because the majority of beneficiaries of these programs are women, due to their longer life spans and greater likelihood of being impoverished. 
• Ryan repeatedly voted over several years to end all funding for Planned Parenthood’s non-abortion services. Like Susan G. Komen’s defunding, voting to cut off funding of Planned Parenthood would rob women of access to breast cancer screenings, cervical cancer screenings, and the other life-saving services Planned Parenthood provides.  By law, federal funding of Planned Parenthood already excludes all abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or when a woman’s life is in danger. 
• Ryan co-sponsored a bill that would deny many rape victims on Medicaid access to abortion. That bill proposed to cut off access through federally-funded programs for victims who were drugged or threatened, some victims of incest, and victims of statutory rape. 
• Ryan voted repeatedly to prevent our female military service-members from using their own private money to pay for abortion at a military hospital. He also voted for legislation to allow bans on abortion coverage in the new state health-insurance exchanges, even for women paying with their own money.
It's no wonder that he and Todd Akin are such close friends.

Reports Of The Unions' Death Are Greatly Exaggerated

The unions are dead! Long live the unions!
After a more than a year of bruising setbacks, one of Wisconsin's largest public employee labor councils saw a ray of hope this week as about 300 private sector employees of a Madison social services provider joined the union.

Social workers, psychiatrists, nurses and support employees at the Journey Mental Health Center voted to form two American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees bargaining units, going against the grain of steadily declining union membership in the private sector and more than a year of defeats for public sector labor organizations.

Journey workers say they organized not for higher pay or better benefits, but to have a voice in management, which has increased caseloads for counselors at the private nonprofit, which is largely funded by government grants.

The agency is justifiably trying to reduce its waiting list for its more than 13,000 clients, said Kevin McConeghey, chairman of the union organizing committee, but in doing so it heaped extra work on employees without asking their advice, and the result has been high turnover rates and much frustration.

"We tried to get management to listen, but we didn't get much response and that was one of the things that drove our effort," McConeghey said.
Welcome my union brothers and sisters! Solidarity!

The Walker Budget Keeps On Working! Part CXLIII

Remember during the recalls how Scott Walker and the Koch News Network affiliates kept telling us how Walker balanced the budget without raising property taxes?

Me neither.

Not only was the claim a lie at the time, with it being proven that Walker not only raised property taxes, but did so on the poorest of the poor.

Now we are seeing the real economic climate that Walker has created with his ALEC-based policies and budget:
In a disturbing sign the state economy remains in crisis, property values in Wisconsin have fallen for the fourth year in a row and showed the largest one-year drop in decades.

This news accompanies a surprising jump in the state unemployment rate announced on Thursday. The jobless rate rose in July to 7.3 percent, up from 7 percent in June, with the state losing an estimated 6,000 private-sector jobs for the month.

Meanwhile, figures released this week by the Department of Revenue showed total property values in Wisconsin down 3.2 percent for 2012, the largest drop in 50 years. That includes a 4 percent drop in residential property and a 1.5 percent decline in commercial property values.

The roughly $2 billion in new residential construction was more than offset by a $15.3 billion erosion in the value of existing homes. (See attached report.)

Overall property values in the state -- which includes residential, commercial, manufacturing and agricultural uses -- are now down 8.4 percent from their peak in 2008. Total values are estimated at $471 billion, down from a peak of $514 billion four years ago.

Todd Berry of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance says the drop again in values, especially on the residential side, came as a surprise since most observers thought the real estate market had bottomed out last year.
They're saying that the reason for this continuing bottoming out is due to personal income levels not rising as fast as real estate values. Now, who was it that "dropped a bomb" in the form of Act 10, slashing the salaries of tens of thousands of Wisconsinites immediately and causing a ripple effect throughout the state?

It should also be noted that the only area of the state that is doing well with real estate values are the ones in western Wisconsin. You know, the ones that are close enough to Minnesota to ride their economic coattails.

I can just hear the Walker apologists now, "But capper, property taxes went down!"

Did they? Not really:
Falling property values do not mean that property taxes will go down, however. Local units of government may have to increase tax rates to make up for the difference in property values, Berry says.

What can happen, Berry says, is that taxpayers whose property has risen in value may end up paying a larger percentage of a community’s taxes than an owner whose home value has fallen.

“That is where you can see a shift in the levy,” he says.
It's working, my ass!

Romney Plays The Racist Card

The Republicans' internal polling must not be too good. Romney is starting to already show the behaviors of a politician whose campaign is failing and flailing. He's gone so far as to play the racist card on at least two occasions.

While campaigning in Michigan, Romney joined the birther movement when he said thia:



In case you missed it, he said:
“I love being home, in this place where Ann and I were raised, where but the both of us were born,” Romney said after introducing his wife, fellow Michigan native Ann Romney. “No one’s ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know that this is the place where we were born and raised.”
Now, I'll admit that I thought at first he was just trying to pander to the birthers and insinuating that Obama wasn't American. It's depressing just how many people actually still believe this nonsense.

But it did provoke some biting and hilarious comebacks by the Twitterati.

But then James Rowen points out this article from the New York Times with this telling passage:
Image courtesy of FDL 
Many of those voters are economically disaffected, and the Romney campaign has been trying to reach them with appeals built around an assertion that Mr. Obama is making it easier for welfare recipients to avoid work. The Romney campaign is airing an advertisement falsely charging that Mr. Obama has “quietly announced” plans to eliminate work and job training requirements for welfare beneficiaries, a message Mr. Romney’s aides said resonates with working-class voters who see government as doing nothing for them.

The moves reflect a campaign infused with a sharper edge and overtones of class and race. On Friday, Mr. Romney said at a rally that no one had ever had to ask him about his birth certificate, and Mr. Ryan invoked his Catholicism and love of hunting. Democrats angrily said Mr. Romney’s remark associated him with the fringe “birther” camp seeking falsely to portray Mr. Obama as not American.
Rowen calls it race baiting. Indeed, it is reminiscent of Ronald Reagan's "welfare queen" attack.

I'm not sure which bothers me more: The fact that a national campaign will still stoop to this level in 2012 or the large amount of people that actually do eat up this kind of racist crap.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Abele's Big PR-oblem

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele has a big problem and it starts with a capitol PR.

The story is at MCF.

Wisconsin's Republicans are too Literal!

We all know that there is a "war on women" being waged by the republican party! The problem in Wisconsin is that some of our republicans have taken their marching orders literally! 

Of course there is the old stand by of David Vanderleest. Who apparently does NOT smoke rocks or beat his family!!

Now Mr. Vanderleest is running as the republican to represent the 90th Assembly district!!!

Eric Genrich will be opposing Mr. Vanderleest on the Ballot in November!


Let's hope the good people of the 90th district do the right thing and send David home to do NOT smoke more rocks!

Unfortunately for our great state, Mr Vanderleest is not alone in disgusting allegations.
Republican Bill Feehan, State Senate Candidate for the "fighting 32nd" has actually been charged with Domestic Battery(but later cut a deal).

From the police files(do you really want to vote for someone you can use that intro with?)

According to court records, Feehan was arrested in September 2000 after an argument with his girlfriend at the time. The girlfriend had accused Feehan of leaving her stranded at a La Crosse bar after a disagreement and then taking a dog from her apartment. He maintained that the dog was his.

She told authorities that she went to his residence, rang his doorbell and when he didn't answer, began throwing boxes and other items from his garage. In response, she said, he came outside, grabbed her by the throat and choked her, tossing her to the ground - something he denied. He accused her of kneeing him in the groin; she later acknowledged that she had done this but said it occurred while being choked.

Police described Feehan as difficult during an interview and after his arrest. "He remained beligerant (sic) and cocky throughout the encounter," wrote Sgt. Dale Chroninger of the Holmen Police Department. In October 2000, Feehan was charged with misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct.

Three months later, prosecutors reduced the charges to an ordinance violation, and he pleaded no contest.


Then we find out that in order to win, he is going after the David "Ike Turner" Prosser Supporters!!

In an interview last week, Feehan said he was wrongly accused.

He added that those guilty of domestic abuse do it repeatedly. He said he has only the single allegation from years ago on his record.


It was not his fault(do republicans ever take personal responsibility)and besides he only beat her up once!!

Is that the man that anyone wants representing them in Government?


Vote Jennifer Schilling in District 32!

Blue Moon Event at the Monarch Trail

My dear friends Barb and Lulu at Friends of the Monarch Trail have sent me a special invitation which I in turn want to share with you, gentle reader:


The county grounds is a beautiful area and the only place that you can see the sunset and the moon rise at the same time.  It might also be the last time we can do this since they are poised to ruin the land, despite their false promises to preserve the trail and the Eschweiler Buildings.

I'll be there. Please join us.

Call To Action: MTA Press Conference and Rally

Since Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele thinks that the voters should not be heard unless they buy the right to do so, Move to Amend and United Wisconsin will be making sure he hears our voices for free.

Long story short: Milwaukee County Courthouse, south end, Monday August 27, 10:30 am.

Details are at Milwaukee County First.

The Small Government Party Meets Reality

Swiped from Facebook:


Paul Ryan the $100 Million Man

According to an embedded republican insider, David Koch bough the Vice Presidency for Paul Ryan (R - Ayn Rand). H/T Cenk Uygur and Current TV Paul Ryan(R - Wall St.) is master of the oldest profession in the world.... It also goes to show how completely incapable Paul ryan is, that it takes $100 Million to get him on the ticket and nothing to get Sarah Palin on the ticket!

The Do-Over

A great preview of the upcoming republican convention...



 Mitt is the etch a sketch candidate after all!

Alderman Bob Donovan And His Wacky Friends

Who wouldn't trust that face?
Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan has long been providing the City of Milwaukee with comic relief for years now. He has recently expanded his show into a three ring circus.

Donovan, partisan puppet for the Republicans, is a busy man though. He's always up to something, like issuing racist press releases and pushing to have all the children (especially the poor and the black ones) locked up where they won't get in the way of his pretending he rules Milwaukee.

His latest Quixotic venture has been his repeated tantrums about the street car. For the longest time, Donovan and his radio squawker buddies have been the only ones griping about it.

Then, at the end of last year, he was joined by Brett Healy, figurehead for the MacIver Institute. Healy was whining about the costs related to the proposed streetcar. Showing his hypocrisy, he completely ignored the much more expensive freeway reconstruction. But then again, his masters probably told him to not to worry about their investments.

More recently, Donovan was joined by Chris Kleisment of CRG. Kleismet, whose corruption is only dwarfed by his cowardice, did his own bootlicking by joining in the faux outrage. We're still waiting for Kleismet to say one thing about Walkergate and the way Walker and his henchmen squandered taxpayer dollars.

After all these months of ineffective and hollow hollering, the Koch Brothers have decided to up the ante by bringing in their trained attack teahadists, Americans for Poverty. They've really taken their game up a few notches by introducing - gasp - a propagandist anti-street car website!

To help support their drivel, the have also brought in master drivelist James Wigderson. Wiggy, as he likes to call himself, is fresh off of a tour of obstructing the rights of people in Walkersha County and is trying to do the same in Milwaukee.

Wiggy has written a rather pedestrian essay which is only notable for its adolescent insults, touting the Koch/Bradley Foundation tag team. But the hilarity comes in at the end of his diatribe (emphasis mine):
Everyone in Milwaukee and the surrounding communities are invited to sign. It isn't just Milwaukeeans that will be paying for the Streetcar Nobody Desires. Everyone can take this opportunity to let the Milwaukee Common Council know what the public thinks of this giant waste of money. If the Common Council will not listen to common sense, perhaps they will listen to the public.
Now, far be it for me to give advice to Wiggy (He's a professional writer, y'know. If you don't believe me, ask him. He'll tell you.)or the Koch Brothers and the Bradley Foundation on how to run their business, but I would think they'd get a lot farther by not implying that the citizens of Milwaukee don't have common sense.

Indeed, the fact that these front groups have to go outside of not only Milwaukee, but out of Milwaukee County, to find supporters shows that we tend to have more common sense than our neighbors.

Why We Need More Democratic Women In Office

From Emerge Wisconsin:
To Be Truly Equal on Women’s Equality Day, We Need More Democratic Women in Office

Madison - Emerge Wisconsin is excited to join with women across Wisconsin and the country to recognize Women’s Equality Day on August 26. This is the day we commemorate women winning the right to vote when the 19th Amendment was signed into law 92 years ago.

While women have had the right to vote for 92 years, we are far from equal. Women make up 50% of the Wisconsin population, yet only 26% of the Wisconsin Legislature are women; only 22% of the City Council and 18% of the County Board seats are held by women. (Statistics by Wisconsin Women’s Council.)

Emerge Wisconsin is working hard to change these statistics by recruiting and training Democratic women to run for office at all levels of government. This year alone, Emerge has had 38 alumnae run for office at both the local and state level.

In honor of Women’s Equality Day, Emerge Wisconsin announces that the application for the 2013 class will be online September 4, 2012. Any interested applicants can go to the website at www.EmergeWI.org

“In order for us to stop the attacks to diminish women’s rights, we need more women in office. We are proud that the training Democratic women receive from Emerge Wisconsin inspires them to run for and propels them into elected office.” Wendy Strout, Executive Director.

Launched in 2007, Emerge is the only organization in Wisconsin that provides Democratic women with the comprehensive training they need to achieve their political aspirations. Emerge currently has twenty-one alumnae running for office this fall. Emerge Wisconsin is part of Emerge America, a national movement and premier training program that addresses the under-representation of women in office at the local, state, and federal level. There are Emerge affiliates in ten states: Arizona, California, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Emerge was founded to create a legion of Democratic women leaders for generations to come.
And for the sake of full disclosure, I do some voluntary work for Emerge.

RIP Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong has taken the largest leap known to mankind:
Armstrong, 82, died Saturday after surgery earlier this month for blocked arteries. A fighter pilot in the Korean War, a test pilot and an engineering professor, he will also be remembered as the astronaut who fulfilled the goal that President John F. Kennedy set out — to put a man on the moon by end of the 1960's — and the first among equals in the pantheon of astronauts from the moon race.

"Neil was among the greatest of American heroes — not just of his time, but of all time," President Obama said in a statement. "When he and his fellow crew members lifted off aboard Apollo 11 in 1969, they carried with them the aspirations of an entire nation."

Armstrong became the symbol of the dream not just of one country but of a whole world to reach beyond our own planet . "Even though we were farther away from earth than two humans had ever been, we were not alone," Aldrin said in a statement on Saturday. "Virtually the entire world took that memorable journey with us. I know I am joined by millions of others in mourning the passing of a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew."

I was only four when Armstrong did this:



Saturday, August 25, 2012

Romney-Ryan in 3 Minutes!

Thanks Robert Reich for some sanity and truth!




Political Lemmings

'Nuff said:


Sneak Preview Of Scott Walker's RNC Speech

In case you weren't aware, Scott Walker is going to speak Tuesday at the Republican National Convention. Granted, he was added as an afterthought, perhaps to fill in for the spot that Todd Akin was going to speak. But speak he will.

At great risk of life and limb, we at Cog Dis are proud to say we have gained possession of a copy of his speech. Keep in mind that this is a rough draft and may be different than the one his handlers have him read at the convention. Here is the speech, in its entirety:
Thank you. Thank you.  It's great to be here with my friends and fellow Koch Industry employees at the Koch Industry Republican National Convention, sponsored by Johnsonville Brats, Miller Beer, Wachenhut and Walmart.

Before I get started, I just want to give a shout out to the next President and Vice-President of the United States - Mutt and Jeff! Er, Mitt and Paul! I also would like to thank my good friend and fellow Wisconsinite Reince Priebus for the invitation to speak to you today. I also would like to thank FBI Special Agents Smith and Jones for allowing me a few minutes to address the convention before taking me to face the grand jury. (Really, all those secret routers aren't mine. I was just holding them for my friend, Tim.)

Now, as I said in Michigan, there is a simple message that will help Mitt and Paul win this election. That message is the truth. It is what helped me win two elections in the last two years. Well, that and electronic voting machines.

When I was running for governor, I pointed out the truth. I told people how my predecessor was wasting valuable tax dollars on such frivolous things like creating jobs, protecting rights and preserving the environment. This is not what the people wanted. I told the voters that I would reform Wisconsin and that is exactly what I did. I reformed it into a place we call Fitzwalkerstan.

I said that I would make the state open for business. And I did. And like any good business, we opened it with a big sale and I am proud to say we have already sold off  and sold out a great deal of the state. To help with this, I created the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, which is made up of businesses to help bring other businesses to the state. This way I have eliminated the do-gooder bureaucrats who would impose needless restrictions. I also eliminated the middle man so that businesses can give their money directly to my campaign without having to go through channels.

I said that my focus would be on jobs, and I'm proud to tell you that I've been pulling one job after another on the people of Fitzwalkerstan.

To help create the jobs, I followed the rules of ALEC and gave our public sector workers a freedom they've never had before. I freed them of having to join a union. I freed them of the drab routine of having a safe working condition. I freed them of having to be in higher tax brackets. I freed them of the responsiblity, I mean the ability, of helping keeping the economy afloat by cutting their pay. Yes, I gave the workers of Fitzwalkerstan freedom, and as we know, freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.

As a sign of our success, we have recently received word of a great company, Master Lock, will be returning jobs that they had previously shipped overseas to China. This company will be creating great jobs that will showcase the wonderful American work ethic and production such as these high quality handcuffs connecting my wrist to Agent Smith's.

But we didn't stop with just the business friendly environment. Oh no, we didn't.

We also focused on the needs of women. Having married a woman, I know how hard it can be for women to make tough choices, especially when it comes to complicated things like money and health care. To help them, we made sure they didn't have to worry about making too much money.  We didn't want to burden their pretty little heads about such things while they're bringing us our coffee, making our ham and cheese sammiches, or doing our errands.

Likewise, they now no longer have to make life-changing medical decisions on their own. After all, there's no me in uterus. But there is us. A lot of us. In fact, as we speak, I am confident that Wisconsin State Representatives Robin Vos, Glenn Grothman, Joel Kleefisch, State Senator Scott Fitzgerald and former State Senator Randy Hopper are getting in all the uteruses they can. These fine men are doing what they can to make sure the women of Wisconsin don't have to be alone when making serious decisions regarding their bodies. We will continue to help make sure their decisions are legitimate ones.

We also made great reforms to our state's education system. Our reforms were all fundamental. We saw all those funds and we went mental. If you ask any child about their school and you can tell that they don't like their school. So instead of wasting all that money for something the children don't want. we directed that money to people who would appreciate it, like the Koch brothers or the Bradley Foundation, who would, in turn, show their appreciation by using some of that money to help buy our elections.

But despite our great strides in reforming Wisconsin, there is much work to do.

For example, as I stated earlier, we gave our public sector workers freedom. But we need to turn our attention to all the workers of our great state. I am proud to announce that as soon as we buy the elections this fall, we are poised to introduce bills that would help reform Wisconsin even further by making it a right to work state. Unfortunately, the state's economy hasn't recovered enough to also make it a right to get paid for work state.

We are also faced with the fact that job creation isn't what we would like to see. I have determined that job creators are reluctant to create jobs from all the uncertainty being created by all of these elections. They weren't sure that I would be recalled. Now they aren't sure that Mitt and Paul will win and that Obamacare will continue to take away from their profits by giving health care to people that can't afford it on their own.

To address this serious issue, I am proud to reveal that I have kept my word of saying that government should be run more like a business. With that in mind, I have eliminated the uncertainty caused by all these rampant acts of democracy.

To do so, I used my executive powers to having Fitzwalkerstan incorporated. Furthermore, I am proud to say that David Koch, the real one this time, has called me at my office and we have successfully negotiated a buy out. We are now known at Fitzwalkerstan, Inc., a subdivision of Koch Enterprises. I am also proud to announce that David Koch has appointed me as CEO of Fitzwalkerstan, a job that I will be able to keep for life, given that I can continue to maintain a healthy profit margin for our parent company.

Thank you again. And don't forget to tip your waitresses, especially you there at tables 21-30. Poor Ciara has been through some rough times and is busting her butt to make sure you have enough ranch dressing for your chicken wings.

And now a word from our sponsors, FOX News and Journal Communications....