They're So Cute When They're All Petulant

Over the past few years a certain subset of bloggers has made the case that money is speech, that there should be no limits on how money is spent to influence politics. The most egregious example of this is the Citizens United decision.

But, now that real people are using their own money to influence politics in the only way they can compete those very same bloggers are shocked, shocked to find out that money is a sword that cuts both ways.

Here is the legacy of Jim Haney at WMC; he sowed the seeds for a business climate in Wisconsin that pitted employers against workers. Now Kwik Trip, Johnsonville and Sargento are reaping the fruit of those vines and the perpetually aggrieved are squealing about it.

Here's a piece of advice for the next time AFP buys a political movement; you might consider the consequences of naming it after the best known boycott in American history. The real patriots of the real Boston Tea Party knew that consumers have choices that can change the system. Thanks to the Koch brothers and Jim Haney Wisconsin companies will have to deal with the fallout from that.

Now, About That Award, Mr. McIlheran

Last night, we pointed out that Patrick McIlheran should return his "Defender of the American Dream" award that he received from the corrupt Americans for Prosperity, which conspired with Tea Parties and the Republicans to perform an illegal voter suppression technique know as voter caging.

McIlheran, disappointingly, but not surprisingly, defended this scheme by minimizing the true intentions.

Unfortunately for Paddy, this scheme is peeling away like the layers of an onion to show the fetid insides. As xoff shows:

The documents included in Dake's email, which is available here,

--A non-disclosure agreement for voter suppression participants from the state GOP.

-- An affidavit and instruction process for voter suppression activities, which includes direction about photographing the homes of people targeted for voter suppression activities.

-- A strategic planning memo that includes the first part of the plan was a voter caging mailing to the 16th Assembly District, which has the third-highest number of African-American voters of any Assembly District in the state.

So again, McIlheran needs to return that award, unless of course he does not support the the voting rights of all Americans.

McIlheran Should Return His AFP Award

Last year, Americans for Prosperity rewarded Patrick McIlheran with their "Defenders of the American Dream" Award. He needs to give it back, unless they mean the American Dream is to deny minorities and young people their voters' rights.

It has been revealed by One Wisconsin Now that Americans for Prosperity has been in cahoots with the Republican Party and some Tea Party Groups to conspire to commit the illegal act of voter caging.

Voter caging is an illegal method to try to suppress voters' rights and is usually aimed at college students and minorities:

Usually, caging occurs when an official-looking, non-forwardable piece of mail is sent to a group of registered voters, often to minorities and students. The parties involved in caging then compile a list of voters whose mail was returned as undeliverable. On Election Day, these organizations will use the undeliverable mail to challenge voters at the polls, utilizing law enforcement and attorneys to support their challenges.

The goal of caging is two-fold. First, is to force as many voters as possible to cast provisional ballots, which require voters to follow-up the day after an election for the ballot to be counted. Historically, about 35% of all provisional ballots are never counted. Additionally, voters whose registration is challenged at the polling place are unlikely to have the required material to complete an Election Day registration, meaning the voter will be turned away at the polls.

The second goal is to create long lines at the polling place as the caging operation challenges voter after voter. Many people cannot afford to sit in line to vote for hours on end. Long lines discourage voters and many simply leave without casting a ballot.

Via OWN, you can read the conspirators' outline of how they were going to do this and the transcript of the tape of Tim Dake of the Grandsons of Liberty talking about this plot.

Even McIlheran's own Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who tried to minimize the reality of this grave injustice, ends up showing Dake, Reince Priebus of the WISGOP and Mark Block of the AFP tripping themselves up in one contradiction after another.

So now will P-Mac give his award back and stand of for voters' rights? Of course not. He probably won't even acknowledge this exposure of wrong doing.

Our Irony Meter Exploded

Whallah's Irony Meter has exploded this morning.

It occurred when Charlie Sykes kept referring to AFP's Mark Block as "a two-bit political hack."

We apologize for the inconvenience.

School Of Hard Knocks

Hey, kids! Did you ever want to grow up and be a conservative blogger? Did you ever want to learn how to:

• Insult major religions?
• Make racist statements?
• Make sexist statements?
• Make a buffoon of yourself by getting your facts wrong, and then trying to hide the evidence, insteading of being an adult about it?

Well, if you answered yes to any or all of these questions, here's your big chance!

Americans Fed Plentifully is presenting a free seminar, just for you! We'll hand it over to Other Side for the details.

Hurry and sign up now! Spaces are going fast!

But there are two disclaimers. One, it is free, and you usually get what you pay for. Two, Whallah bloggers are eager for the fresh meat.

"Not Approved By The AFP" Cartoon

From the email inbox...

THE OIL COMPANIES HAVE AGREED TO A NEW, INTERNATIONAL GASOLINE SYMBOL:



No matter where you travel, you'll recognize their symbol !

Defending the American Nightmare

Today is the big day for the AFP and their misnamed Defending the American Dream Summit.

On their list of guest speakers is Vicki McKenna, aka the other McBride. They are also going to have McIlheran and Fred Dooley of the also misnamed Real Debate Wisconsin.

To spare you the pain of having to read their self-acclaiming posts that they are sure to be writing, Whallah! saves you the trouble by hiring two actors to recreate their contribution to this event:



Unfortunately, we cannot tell which actor is portraying which character, as they are somewhat interchangeable.

Also on the list of guest speakers is the local right wing media's darling law enforcement official David Clarke. I kind of wish I saw his appearance, especially in light of his frugal use of taxpayer's money:

Sheriff Clarke wants to force his deputies to make their legal signatures legible, and anyone who they think is not legible is being referred to internal affairs. This is not a choice being given to the Captain’s, they have been ordered to find/start 5 cases every week.

For other insightful looks at their little shindig, I would refer the gentle reader to my piece on folkbum's as well as the work of the Motley Cow.

And I would be remiss if I did not point out how the Chief explains why they were still looking for attendees as recently as yesterday, or the lackluster of one of their other star speakers.

H/T to Watchdog Milwaukee for the Clarke piece.