Alberta Darling: Good for Wisconsin

It's "We, the people," not "We, the unions and liberal special interests."

Wisconsinites did the right thing when we put Wisconsin on a path to prosperity last November.

What a mistake it would be to let that slip away!



Alberta Darling did what we wanted - balanced the state budget without raising taxes.

Success!

"My opponent believes taxpayers should work for the government. I don't. I believe that government should work for the people."

Well said.

Vote for Alberta Darling on August 9th.

Then celebrate your vote with some HONEST barbecue, not the illegal, pro-Sandy Pasch stuff.

John Chisholm. Calling DEMOCRAT Milwaukee County District Attorney, John Chisholm.

Wisconsin Jobs Now and 'Block Parties'

Wisconsin Jobs Now! has been hosting "block parties," offering free food and prizes.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch.

In this case, Wisconsin Jobs Now! was asking for participation in its absentee voting drive.

From the MacIver News Service:

Two events held in Milwaukee today aimed at rewarding absentee voters could run afoul of Wisconsin law a state election official said today.

The group, Wisconsin Jobs Now! describes itself as a “coalition of community groups, neighborhood associations, faith based organizations and labor united in an effort to bring good jobs to Wisconsin now.”

At two events in the city Monday, Wisconsin Jobs Now! offered free BBQ and prize drawings to people who participate in their absentee voting drive. They promoted the events on their website, action.wisconsinjobsnow.org.

Wisconsin statutes forbid “election bribery,” under 12.11. This includes giving or offering anything of value in exchange for going to the polls.

Steve Pickett, an elections specialist with the Government Accountability Board, told the MacIver News Service that whether this event is legal or not could come down to timing.

“If they walk in with a sticker that says ‘I voted ‘that’s one thing, but if they eat before they vote that’s a problem,” Pickett said. “It’s still a questionable practice one way or the other.”

...[The Wisconsin Jobs Now!] website has been highly critical of Republican Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), and in addition to the get out the vote parties, the organization has been organizing and shuttling voters to Milwaukee’s city hall.

Earlier on Monday, the Republican Party of Wisconsin filed a complaint with the GAB alleging illegal coordination between Citizen Action of Wisconsin and the campaign of Sandy Pasch (D-Millwaukee), Darling’s challenger.

The RPW complaint comes on the revelation by Media Trackers that Pasch sits on the board of directors of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. The Republican Party asked the Government Accountability Board to conduct investigation into whether Sandy Pasch’s membership on the Board of Directors for Citizen Action of Wisconsin violated Section 11.06(7) of the Wisconsin statutes concerning illegal coordination between candidates and independent expenditure organizations.

Apparently, the Leftists and union thugs don't have much faith in Sandy Pasch to deliver.

If they did, if they had confidence in her, there would be no need to engage in these questionable, possibly illegal, tactics.

Pasch's campaign is steeped in corruption.

In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's coverage of the "block parties," the events are given a jaw-droppingly ridiculous spin.

State election authorities are questioning whether a liberal group broke the law by offering both free food and free rides to vote in a hotly contested Senate recall election.

Although no formal complaint had reached the state Government Accountability Board by Monday afternoon, a spokesman for the agency said it would not be legal to combine free food and transportation to the polls in the same event - even if, as the organization contends, people could take the food without boarding the buses.

Local law enforcement authorities are reportedly looking into the get-out-the-vote "block parties."

Five such parties were sponsored by Wisconsin Jobs Now, a coalition of community and labor groups led by the Service Employees International Union. The coalition describes itself as a nonpartisan organization, although its blog posts have been highly critical of state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), who is defending her seat against Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay) in the Aug. 9 recall vote.

Wisconsin Jobs Now held three parties last week and two Monday, all on Milwaukee's northwest side. Each party offered free food, prizes such as t-shirts and stuffed toys, face-painting for children, drawings for school backpacks - and free shuttles to Milwaukee City Hall, where voters could cast absentee ballots in the 8th Senate District contest.

Janet Veum, a spokeswoman for Wisconsin Jobs Now, described the events as "a celebration of voting," aimed at making it easier to vote for low-income and minority groups who might face more challenges under the state's new photo identification law.

...State law prohibits anyone from offering a voter any inducement to vote or not vote. Veum said her group believed it was complying with the law because no one was required to take the rides or vote to get the food and prizes.

But "that's a distinction without a difference," said Reid Magney, spokesman for the accountability board. He said it was legal to offer rides to the polls, or free food at picnics to talk about issues, but not in the same event.

Magney said his agency had not received any complaints about the parties and that enforcing the law would be up to the Milwaukee County district attorney's office.

A "celebration of voting"?

Oh, good grief!

Clearly, the "block parties" were staged as an inducement to vote.

This is sickening.

Such "inducements" are utilized by the Leftists again and again here in Wisconsin, probably because they know they can get away with the tactics.

It's a disgrace.

But Connie Milstein would be proud.
_________________

From Media Trackers:

Milwaukee- Media Trackers filed complaints this morning with the Government Accountability Board and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office alleging illegal election and electioneering activities on the part of Wisconsin Jobs Now!

"We are confident that the GAB and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office will take our complaints serious," remarked Brian Sikma, communications director for Media Trackers. "The evidence that we reported on our website and that our sources gave us all point to multiple violations of election law on the part of Wisconsin Jobs Now! It is time for Wisconsin Jobs Now! to be held accountable for such flagrant violations of the law."

"Because the actions of Wisconsin Jobs Now! are so despicable, we are calling on the Sandy Pasch and Alberta Darling campaigns to also file complaints with the GAB and the Milwaukee County DA's office," stated Sikma. "What took place yesterday is an affront to both campaigns and, more importantly, to the voters in Senate District 8." Sikma continued saying, "If the candidates truly wish to state their frustration with these illegal actions and distance themselves from such tactics, they should file complaints calling for a formal GAB investigation of Wisconsin Jobs Now!"

WisconsinJobs Now! on the afternoon of August 1st hosted two events in northern Milwaukee County where voters were given a free barbeque chicken dinner and raffle tickets in exchange for showing up to vote. Participants were transported to the Milwaukee City Hall in vans with Wisconsin Jobs Now! logos on the side. Once at City Hall, volunteers wearing Wisconsin Jobs Now! t-shirts stood inside the Milwaukee Election Commission office and explained how the voting would work. Media Trackers secured first-hand reports and evidence of these activities.

Christopher Branski

I know I shouldn't be shocked by the foul-mouthed, hate-filled attacks by liberals against conservatives.

Spend a little time on the Internet and you can't miss the Left's ugliness. However, much of that is spewed under the assumption of anonymity.

When someone sends a vicious e-mail to an elected official and the individual has no qualms about having his name attached to it and his identity known, I do find it rather shocking.

Christopher M. Branski, a student at Madison Area Technical College, sent State Senator Alberta Darling an absolutely horrible e-mail.

Charlie Sykes shares the message:

WARNING * OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE * WARNING

From: Christopher M Branski [mailto:CBranski@matcmadison.edu]
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 12:35 PM
To: Sen.Darling
Subject: You are Revolting
Importance: High


Soon to be ex-Senator Darling:

Last night when you decided to cut the state EITC credits to working poor families in order to provide no-strings-attached tax breaks to corporations you showed your true colors: you're not on our side and you have no heart.

Instead of cajoling you to change your mind, I'm just going to tell you what you are: you're a useless f**king c*nt that has no redeeming value. There are not enough words to describe how much I hate you and the rest of the f**king scum in the Wisconsin GOP. You're parasites and you contribute nothing. Enjoy getting recalled you useless f**king dried up c*nt.

Christopher Branski

Wow.

Branski is truly scary.

He's doing more than attacking Sen. Darling. He's attacking women.

NOW should come to Sen. Darling's defense. The organization would condemn Branski if it were true to its alleged mission rather than serving as a political front group.

Democrats and other self-proclaimed feminists would express their outrage over Branski's e-mail and his inexcusable treatment of Sen. Darling.

But they don't.

Be proud, Leftists. Branski is your brother. Embrace him.

Solidarity.

Disgusting.

MADD: Neutral on Drunk Driving Proposals

Senator Alberta Darling and Representative Jim Ott, both Republicans, have proposed measures to strengthen Wisconsin's drunken-driving laws.

The reaction from the national office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is "neutral."

NEUTRAL?

My reaction to MADD's reaction is most definitely NOT neutral.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

An official at Mothers Against Drunk Driving says his organization has taken a neutral position on two drunken-driving proposals put forth by Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon).

On Friday, the two legislators held a press conference to announce they were introducing two bills they said would strengthen the state's drunken-driving laws.

One bill calls for a first drunken-driving offense to be a crime if the person has a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or higher.

Current law makes a first offense a municipal violation. Current law also makes it a criminal offense if the driver has a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher and there is a child 16 years of age or younger in the car.

The other bill would make a third and fourth drunken-driving conviction a felony. Currently, the fourth arrest for drunken driving is considered a felony if it comes within five years of the third offense.

But Frank Harris, state legislative affairs manager for the national office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said in an email to Darling and Ott that, while their bills are well intentioned, MADD wants laws that make drunken driving a misdemeanor at 0.08 as opposed to 0.15. Additionally, Harris wrote, MADD wants laws that require an ignition interlock for first time offenders who have a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or greater.

"MADD applauds your leadership on keeping the streets safe from drunk drivers in Wisconsin," Harris wrote in the email, which was also sent to the Journal Sentinel. "MADD supports making a third offense a felony but is neutral on the proposal to make a first conviction with a blood-alcohol of .15 or greater a misdemeanor.

That's nuts.

Strengthening current laws is an improvement. MADD should be supporting the efforts of Darling and Ott.

"Making a first OWI conviction a misdemeanor at .15 BAC is not a step and this does not represent progress against drunk driving."

Added Harris: "This .15 BAC bill sends a mixed message on what the illegal level of drunk driving is in Wisconsin exactly and will not send any message or deterrence necessary to stop drunk driving or the majority of drunk driving deaths in Wisconsin caused by drunk drivers with no prior convictions. The only benefit to this legislation is that more drunk drivers may refuse and thereby receive an ignition overlock."

The bill doesn't send a mixed message at all.

Harris isn't making sense. Increasing penalties for drunk driving is a deterrence. It's certainly better than doing nothing at all.

I really don't understand why MADD would choose to be "neutral" rather than strongly supporting any and all steps taken to save lives.

I find MADD's position extremely troubling. Something is not right here.

The organization is not living up to its mission statement.

I'm through making financial contributions to MADD.

Budget Hearing: SHAME, SHAME, SHAME

What a stunning turn of events!

People/protesters were upset that they ALL couldn't speak at the budget hearing held at State Fair Park yesterday.

They started chanting, "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!"

Where have I heard that before?

For one, I heard the Democrats in the Wisconsin State Assembly scream it.



From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

It was the third of four hearings around the state held by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee on Walker's proposed budget. And like earlier hearings in Stevens Point and Superior, the turnout was in the hundreds, rather than the thousands that some expected.

Only hundreds, not thousands?

Is the movement losing steam?

In all, about 270 speakers signed up before registrations to speak were cut off about 12:30 p.m., according to Ted Blazel, Wisconsin Senate sergeant of arms.

Though committee co-chairs Rep. Robin Vos (R-Burlington) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) had said they planned to end the meeting by 6 p.m. - a plan that drew criticism from Democrats - testimony was allowed into the early evening, and everyone who signed up to speak had done so by 6:30.

A crowd of hundreds of people who had rallied outside the expo center came in late demanding to speak, but they had not registered by the noontime cutoff, and Vos adjourned the meeting after hearing from all of those who registered. As he and Republican legislators left the room, there were shouts of "let us speak" and "shame."

Vos said he had to end the meeting because he was scheduled to attend a Wisconsin Conservation Congress meeting in his district.

No hearing would have been long enough to satisfy the Democrats and their union allies.

It was guaranteed that they would complain about not being heard.

This "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME" chant is getting to be a joke.

Their rallying cry is akin to a tantrum that's lost its effectiveness, like when the parent simply ignores the screaming child and he finally quiets down.

Acting with some decorum would be a smarter move. Calm and controlled is better than crazed.

As Rep. Robin Vos said, "While many people wanted to speak, and we gave an opportunity to several hundred, many more are going to be able to testify through written communication or electronic."

He's absolutely right.

Time is finite. It's unreasonable to expect public forums to go on indefinitely. Everyone who wants to speak can't always be accommodated. That's not trampling on democracy. It's what we call the earthly limits of time.

Citizens do have other ways of communicating their concerns to elected officials.

Back when Russ Feingold held elected office, he didn't allow his listening sessions to go on forever. The former senator had a strict policy - "up to an hour." Read the rules here. Dems didn't complain then. The union thugs didn't erupt.

Of course, Democrats Chris Larson and Lena Taylor had their lines rehearsed. Whenever the hearing ended, they would object. The chants would begin. The fists would be raised.

Larson and Taylor would ratchet up the rhetoric once again.

Larson tweets:

Public hearing shut down. Republicans sneak out the back to shouts of "shame" from the 100s in crowd

And this:

Pictures of people who showed up but not allowed to testify are being put up on empty chairs.

Like that bit of theatrics was just spontaneous. Sure.

More from Larson on Facebook.

Also on Facebook, Taylor wrote:

To Milwaukee and Wisconsin waiting at the budget hearing to heard:

"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Right.

Rage, rage, shame, shame, shame, rage, shame, rage, shame, shame, shame, shame, rage, rage, rage, shame, rage, shame TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!

Video, from FOX 6: