State Fair and Riverwest Mob Attacks: Ed Flynn

As bad as the violence was last night at the Wisconsin State Fair and as inadequate as the police response was in terms of controlling the situation, at least progress has been made since the mob attacks in Riverwest.

Police actually admitted there was a mob this time. There were no denials. There was no confusion about whether there actually was a mob attack.

Progress!

Police Chief Ed Flynn actually admitted at his press conference that people were singled out for attack because of their race. In his statement, he was vague. He didn't say blacks targeted whites, but he did acknowledge the racial element in the violence.

Flynn guaranteed that events in Milwaukee this weekend will be safe.

That's quite a guarantee.

Here's video of Flynn's news conference on the State Fair violence:

Wisconsin State Fair Curfew Policy

After last night's mob attacks at the Wisconsin State Fair, the beatings and the violence and the hospitalizations, the Fair has put in place a new policy.

GOOD!

Here's the youth/parental guardian admission policy, from 620 WTMJ:

The Wisconsin State Fair imposed a curfew Friday for all patrons under age 18 after a series of mob attacks marred the Fair's opening night Thursday.

According to State Fair Park CEO Rick Frenette, the policy will go into effect at 5:00 p.m. Friday evening and reads as follows:

"1. All youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age are required to be accompanied by a legal guardian (age 21+) to be admitted to the Wisconsin State Fair after 5:00 p.m.

2. Anyone 18 years or over may be asked to show a valid driver's license or state identification card for proof of age in order to be admitted to the Wisconsin State Fair without a parent or guardian after 5:00 p.m.

3. Any young adult under 18 without a valid driver's license or state identification card and not accompanied by a parent or guardian will not be admitted after 5:00 p.m.

4. Execpetions and challenges to this policy will be satisfied at the discretion of Fair Management."

I'm sure that the plans of many kids under 18 have been made more complicated because of this policy.

They need a parent or guardian to accompany them if they want to enter the Fair after 5:00 PM.

When I was under 18, I had great times going to the Fair with friends at night. It has to be frustrating for good kids.

However, any parents or kids troubled by the new policy should direct their anger or disappointment at the thugs, the mobs of violent thugs, that committed crimes last night inside and outside of the fairgrounds.

State Fair management should be commended for taking steps to keep the State Fair safe.

Frenette said in a news conference Friday that seven State Fair Police officers were injured in the attacks and that two have been treated and released from the hospital. 24 teenagers were arrested after attacking fairgoers Thursday night.

"State Fair management has been assured and is working with the State Patrol and City of West Allis and City of Milwaukee to have an increased police presence surrounding the Fair Park for the safety of all fairgoers and surrounding community," Fredette added. "We will not tolerate this behavior within the Fair Park again."

Witnesses described a chaotic scene Thursday night, and many believe African-American teenagers were targeting white fairgoers.

This is absolutely unacceptable.

Without question, State Fair management did the right thing by instituting the new policy.

It's sad that thugs attacked fairgoers and committed the crimes they did.

It's horrible that young black people targeted white people.

If the accounts of victims and witnesses are correct, these were hate crimes.

I know the Fair is technically considered to be in West Allis, but Mayor Tom Barrett was at the opening ceremony yesterday. And portions of the fairgrounds are in the city of Milwaukee? Has Barrett commented on the attacks?

At least some members of the violent mob had to be city of Milwaukee residents.

I wonder how Barrett feels about residents of his city being responsible for causing these crimes and forcing the Fair into enacting these unprecedented measures.
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The State Fair's website has been updated with the new admission policy.


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UPDATE, from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

On Friday afternoon, Mayor Tom Barrett announced an increase in police presence at community events planned for the week. He said there would be no tolerance for violence at festivals and that perpetrators will be prosecuted -- regardless of race.

"Two years ago I was a victim of a random attack at State Fair… last night's events took place at State Fair that I don't believe are random," he said at a City Hall news conference.

Barrett didn't indicate if he believed the events were racially charged.

Barrett said this weekend is of special importance because of the Historic Third Association Jazz festival, the African World Festival and the Milwaukee Comedy Festival in addition to the fair. He said police presence will be increased at all events.

Can you imagine the response if mobs of white young people targeted and attacked innocent black people leaving African World Festival?

Try.
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Here's video of Barrett's news conference:

 

State Fair: Mob Attacks (Video)

I was at the Wisconsin State Fair yesterday.

I didn't witness any problems while I was there. I saw no fights and nothing remotely like mob violence or people being attacked randomly.

We were parked on the infield. As we walked to the car after hours of consuming the best of the fair (like dark chocolate covered cranberries drizzled with white chocolate on a stick - delicious!), we passed the grandstand. MC Hammer was performing "Too Legit to Quit."

I left the grounds about an hour before closing and went home happy, with a six-pack of cream puffs to go.

I guess I was lucky.

From WISN:

Local law enforcement agencies are investigating several incidents near State Fair Park late Thursday night.

Milwaukee police said that around 11:10 p.m., squads were sent to the area for complaints of battery, fighting and property damage to a large, unruly crowd. One officer described it as a "mob beating."

Police said the group of young people attacked fairgoers who were leaving the fair grounds. Police said that some victims were attacked while walking. They said others were pulled out of cars and off of motorcycles before being beaten.

Police said at least seven people were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the incidents happened in various areas near the fair grounds, including near the intersection of 84th and Adler streets.

The Milwaukee Police Department, West Allis Police Department and Milwaukee County Sheriff Department all responded to the area.

Milwaukee police said nobody was in custody early Friday morning. They said they are working to identify suspects.

From 620 WTMJ:

Witnesses tell Newsradio 620 WTMJ and TODAY'S TMJ4 of a mob of young people attacking innocent fair-goers at the end of the opening night of State Fair, with some callers claiming a racially-charged scene.

One witness described a mob of 20 to 30 young black men beating white people, including him, as they left State Fair Thursday night.

"It looked like they were just going after white guys, white people," said Norb Roffers of Wind Lake in an interview with Newsradio 620 WTMJ. He left the State Fair Entrance near the corner of South 84th Street and West Schlinger Avenue in West Allis.

"They were attacking everybody for no reason whatsoever."

...TODAY'S TMJ4 video shows West Allis police handcuffing at least one person, but they won't say how many people they took into custody.

Milwaukee Police said that their officers were sent to State Fair Park for "complaints of battery, fighting and property damage due to a large, unruly crowd."

A police sergeant told TODAY'S TMJ4's Melissa McCrady that the number of calls describing injuries are still coming in, so they could not give an accurate number of people who were injured.

That sergeant explained that some injuries were serious, and local hospitals were attending to the injured.

Milwaukee Police said they had no one in custody.

One woman told police that she was sitting in her car with a window down when some teenagers reached through her window and started attacking her.

"I think once we get all the info in it'll be just like that, like what happened in Riverwest," said the police sergeant.

...[Norb Roffers of Wind Lake] described his emotions and reactions to the attacks outside the park.

"I turned around and looked, there was this black kid standing there laughing, thinking it's funny. My wife's like, 'Let's get out of here.' It's one of those things, you don't expect it. Your reaction to it is, first of all, quite surprised, then you get so angry, it's like, 'What in the hell's going on there? Why are these guys acting like such hoodlums? What are they picking on anybody for?' We were just like cattle being herded out of the park, and they were picking and choosing who they wanted to beat on."

He said his injuries were limited to a headache.

Roffers said the attack wouldn't stop him from attending the State Fair.

"We will be going back," said Roffers.

"It's a family event for us. We get together with our family and we do stuff at the park to enjoy the fair. My biggest concern is that the State Fair Park Police and West Allis get their heads out of their butts and figure out how to do some security over there. This isn't the first year State Fair has been going on. They should know what the heck they've got to do and where they've got to have people in place by now."

But according to Roffers, they did not have enough people there to handle the crowds, and he claims that the main stage acts - MC Hammer, Young MC and Tone Loc, were the draw for a crowd he claimed was there.

"I think the headliner they had last night is what drew the type of crowd they had last night. I've never been at that fair where they had so many African-American people. There's never usually that many of them, at that park, for whatever reason that I can figure."

..."There was this terror going on when you leave the place, you just wonder. Luckily, all the violence that was happening stayed right close by the park entrance. As we got a block away from the park, that's when the cops started showing up."

He said the lack of police and security presence will bring about his complaint up the various channels of State Fair and local police.

"They should be able to provide safety and traffic control," said Roffers. "I've never worried about it before."

He said he would give a written complaint to the State Fair and put in a call to West Allis Police, but that's not all.

"I will be contacting the State Fair Park Board and I'm going to chew on their butts a little bit about what happened."

From FOX 6 News:

It wasn't the way that we wanted State Fair to kick off this year. Hundreds of people rampaged through the local neighborhoods at about 11:00 p.m. last night. Milwaukee police say it all started around closing time in the parking lot.

Police were called out to State Fair Park for complaints of battery, fighting, and property damage from a large unruly crowd. According to police, starting at the fairgrounds, the group ran down 84th St. then continued down to 60th and Main St.

Some reports say the group charged at cars leaving the fair, smashed in car and home windows, and fighting/attacking people along the way.

Police say people were punched in the face by the group. A Muskego woman required stitches and another woman will need surgery. As of now, four victims have come forward so far.

We've gotten several emails from witnesses at the scene saying the mob could have started at the Midway inside the park. Multiple fights broke out and a little boy was thrown to the ground.

Multiple fights broke out and a little boy was even thrown to the ground.

Police continue to investigate what happened late last night. According to police, nobody is in custody and they are working to identify the suspects involved. They tell FOX6 that if or once the suspects are found, they could face at least two felony charges -- including child abuse.

That's horrible!

I experienced nothing threatening on the fairgrounds last night (other than the deep fried butter).

I saw people of all races having a good time. At no point did I see large groups of young people roaming the grounds. I witnessed nothing intimidating or frightening.

I had a very pleasant experience.

It's very disturbing to think that my visit to the fair could have ended with a beating and a trip to the hospital if I had left just a bit later and been in the wrong place.

There is absolutely no excuse for this mob violence, none whatsoever.

I'm afraid that a much larger law enforcement presence is necessary to maintain order.

Sadly, it appears that there is a mob of conscienceless young people, sociopaths, in the Milwaukee area bent on behaving violently and terrorizing innocent people.

We can't let them hold our state fair hostage.

We can't let the terrorists win.
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Watch video from TMJ4.



Video from FOX 6 News:

 

RAW VIDEO: Cell phone video of State Fair midway incident

 

RAW VIDEO: State Fair news conference on incidents

 

Victims describe what happened at State Fair

 
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UPDATE: Wisconsin State Fair Curfew Policy
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UPDATE: Walker orders State Patrol to assist at State Fair

Gov. Scott Walker has ordered the Wisconsin State Patrol to provide additional law enforcement help at the Wisconsin State Fair after several incidents involving rampaging youths broke out on the fairgrounds and on the streets outside Thursday night.

Cullen Werwie, Walker's spokesman, said the governor made the decision after reviewing the events from Thursday night, in which at least 24 people were arrested.

"We will continue to evaluate the situation and make any adjustments necessary to ensure a successful and safe event. We will be doing everything in our power to ensure that parents feel that it is safe to bring their children to the world's best fair," Werwie said in a statement.

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UPDATE, August 6, 2011: New rules help keep things calm, State Fair spokeswoman says

Wisconsin State Fair officials reported a normal, violence-free evening Friday, thanks in part to new rules put in place to keep unattended teens away and a beefed-up presence of uniformed law enforcement officers.

"It really went well," Patrice Harris, the fair's communication manager, said Saturday.

At least 31 people were arrested and at least 11 people were injured Thursday, during the fair's opening night.

The trouble Thursday began around 7 p.m. when fights erupted among black youths in the Midway area and spread into neighboring streets around the 11 p.m. closing time.

As a result, new rules were implemented that require all people under 18 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over the age of 21 in order to be admitted to the fairgrounds after 5 p.m.

In addition, Gov. Scott Walker ordered the State Police to help keep order. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn also promised additional police protection at the fair and other weekend activities around the city.

"Fairgoers were coming into the park thanking us for the policies," Harris said. "The extra security really assured people of their safety."

Harris said she did not know if the new policies, or fear that Thursday's violence might be repeated, suppressed attendance.

Scott Walker, State Fair, Protests (Video)

I love the Wisconsin State Fair.

It's a fantastic event where people from all walks of life come together and just have fun.

It's a respite from the nightmares and annoyances of daily life. For a day or a few hours, forget about the disastrous economy, sinking home values, contentious recall elections, scandals, blah, blah, blah.

Have some food on a stick and relax. Listen to the live music. Have a cream puff, a heavenly cream puff. Watch the pig races. Buy a mop or the latest, new and improved slicer and dicer.

What's not to love?

PROTESTERS.

Protesters marred today's opening ceremony. They refused to show the event the respect it deserves. Instead, some goons decided they would attack Governor Scott Walker, completely disregarding the spirit of the fair, a celebration of Wisconsin.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The politics that have split the state since winter spilled into a Wisconsin summer tradition Thursday morning during Gov. Scott Walker's meet-and-greet at the opening ceremony of the Wisconsin State Fair.

Protesters in red shirts chanted "shame" and "recall Walker" during Walker's speech while supporters of Walker cheered him on.

While Walker spoke, Lynn Ziehr, 49, of Richfield shouted "shame" right back at the protesters.

Ziehr has been attending the fair for many years, but this was her first time attending the opening ceremony. She did so this year to support Walker.

Ziehr said she didn't think the protest was appropriate for the event.

"I can't believe how much hatred is going around this state," she said.

Barb Neddo, 49, and her daughter Sarah, 19, protested at the event sporting "Recall Walker" shirts.

Sarah Neddo, a sophomore at UW-Madison, said she thinks it's important to let people know that the protests aren't going away.

"We're still here and we're still fighting," she said.

Mother and daughter both noted that, for the most part, people kept their cool at the event.

Sarah Neddo said she thinks it's great that people on both sides could express their views and then go enjoy a day at the fair.

Ziehr, too, said she planned to stay at the fair for the rest of the day, and is excited to see the draft horses.

Other speakers at the opening included Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and West Allis Mayor Dan Devine.

From 620 WTMJ, a less sanitized account of what happened:

Amidst the fun and frivolity of the State Fair's opening day, some protesters of Republican Governor Scott Walker's policies came and showed their disapproval when he spoke at the fair.

As Walker gave the last speech of the opening ceremony at the fair on Thursday morning, protesters yelled "Shame, shame, shame!"

"You're a weasel," came from one of the protesters.

TODAY'S TMJ4's Diane Pathieu tells us that what began as 20 to 30 protesters eventually turned into twice that many people shouting during the duration of Walker's speech.

Walker claimed that the protests shouldn't stop the fun of the fair.

"Out of 800,000 people, (there's) 50-60 people, they have their right to do that," said Walker.

"Most people who come to the fair will tell you they set aside politics and business and have a good time."

But for Milwaukee Public Schools teacher Julianna Kelly, it was a chance to get up close to the governor and make her voice heard, and she's not done yet.

"Our government is supposed to be of the people, be by the people for the people," explained Kelly.

"(His policies) hurt way too many people, not just teachers, Medicare, Social Security, the elderly, children of poverty."

Not "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME"! Not again!!!

Good grief.

This ticks me off. It really does.

For God's sake, give it a rest at the fair.

What are these thugs going to do at the Governor's Auction?

One of the highlights of the Fair is the Governor's Red, White and Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction. The Coliseum will bustle with the excitement and chatter of the Governor's Red, White and Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction as auctioneers chide bidders to raise the stakes and up the ante. Exhilaration and the excitement level increases as the bids go higher and higher on each Champion Market Steer, Lamb and Barrow. Proceeds from the event contribute to youth agriculture programs and scholarships.

Read more about this great event.

The protesters disrupting the opening ceremony of the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair have no shame.

Really disgusting.

Sadly, this sort of behavior is a hallmark of the Scott Walker detractors. They're blinded by their hate. They are unhinged.

Remember when protesters disrupted a Special Olympics event at the Capitol?

Here's video of the disgraceful display at the State Fair today, from the MacIver Institute:



Look at these people! They're crazed. They're an embarrassment. How terribly inappropriate! Such thuggery is no way to win hearts and minds to their cause.

Kudos to the MacIver Institute for doing such a terrific job of informing the public.

Wisconsin State Fair

The 2011 Wisconsin State Fair begins today!

Something new this year:

WORLD'S LARGEST CREAM PUFF – AUGUST 11

How would you like to see a Cream Puff that weighs more than a Supreme Champion Swine? Check out our own "Puff Daddy" as he attempts to set a Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Cream Puff! It will all "rise to the top" in Central Park on Thursday, August 11 during Golden Guernsey Dairy Day. Watch Team Cream Puff as they assemble a cream puff for the Guinness Book of World Records. The official record-setting weigh-in will take place at 2pm in Central Park.

Go Team Cream Puff!

Cran on a Stick - WI State Fair

Here's a new "food on a stick" offering coming to the 2011 Wisconsin State Fair: "Cran on a Stick."

From FOX 6 News:

The dried sweetened cranberries are covered in dark chocolate, clustered on a stick, and then drizzled with white chocolate.

Although people who have tried "Cran on a Stick" think it will be a hot commodity, you will only be able to get it during the 11 days of the fair. You can buy them at the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association Booth for $2.50 a piece.

That sounds so good.

I love cranberries. Add dark chocolate and a drizzle of white chocolate and you've got a fantastic treat.

...According to the [Wisconsin Cranberry] Growers Association, Wisconsin produces more than 60% of the nation's supply of cranberries and well over 50% of the world's supply as well.

Wow! Wisconsin is a cranberry powerhouse!

Fifty percent of the world's supply?

Very impressive!

 

Fried Butter, Bacon Sundae - Wisconsin State Fair

Nothing compares to the cream puffs at the Wisconsin State Fair, but new offerings come along that do attract attention.

In 2009, the Machine Shed did big business with its chocolate-covered bacon.

This year at the 160th Wisconsin State Fair, the Machine Shed is once again giving fairgoers a new treat: deep fried butter.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The wacky food machine is up and running at the Wisconsin State Fair, with deep fried butter and a bacon sundae (vanilla ice cream with pancake syrup and bacon bits) among the notable entries on the menu.

The fried butter - a battered treat that's been showing on fair menus across America - comes to the Wisconsin fair courtesy of the Machine Shed, which also will introduce fried mashed potatoes this year.

The butter treat is described as "big, doughy, warm, butter-filled deep-fried goodness," according to Patrice Harris, the fair's communcations manager.

Cedar Crest Ice Cream serves up the vanilla ice cream sundae sprinkled with genuine bacon bits.

"There's so much new stuff for people to try. With the hit of chocolate covered bacon a couple years ago, and bacon in general lately, anything with bacon will do quite well," said Harris.

The foods-on-a-stick category gets a few new entries this year, too. "People are obsessed with the foods on the stick," she says. "And it's convenient - to walk and eat."

Among the offerings there: country fried back with gravy. Not all the foods on a stick are deep fried, she says, but she adds, "The deep frying holds it together on the stick."

...Other confirmed new offerings this year:

Sweet corn jalapeño nuggets, at Krautland; the "Hold Shot" (a double hot dog with cheese, bacon and peppers), at Leadfoot's Bar & Grill; sweet potato tater tots, Major Goolsby's; a beer battered walleye fry and sandwich, Lakefront Brew Pub & Eatery.

Eugene Kane: Trust, Fraud, Wisconsin Politics

Eugene Kane, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, writes about the importance of trust in a relationship.

It's been said that once trust goes out of a relationship, it's pretty much over.

What does that say about the state of Wisconsin politics these days?

At a public hearing on Gov. Scott Walker's two-year budget at State Fair Park on Monday, I talked to several people in attendance who didn't trust the Joint Finance Committee's decision to hold the event during daytime hours, when many working people were at their jobs.

Some suspected it was all a GOP plot to keep attendance low in the Milwaukee area for a hearing that was likely to draw thousands more if held at night.

Members of the Joint Finance Committee apparently didn't trust that local residents who registered to speak could keep their comments brief. A timekeeper kept reminding citizens about the 2-minute speaker's limit, including by holding up a sign when there were just 30 seconds remaining.

It's fair to say, after an election where both sides found reason to grumble, the mistrust factor is off the charts.

Democrats don't trust Walker when he says his budget-repair bill was designed to balance the budget and wasn't meant to kill public unions. Republicans don't trust Democrats, who they think are set on trying to paint the governor's proposed cost-cutting moves as disastrous to the state.

After last week's election, many voters weren't ready to trust the stunning news that 14,000 votes were mistakenly left out of the vote total in the state Supreme Court race in Waukesha County.

They didn't trust the electoral process enough to accept that it could have just been human error by a county clerk.

The main reason they felt that way was because they figured if the situation were reversed, the other side wouldn't trust them, either.

Kane acts as if the breakdown in trust in the relationship between the Democrats and Republicans in Wisconsin is a relatively recent development.

WRONG.

Conservatives have had reason to doubt the integrity of Wisconsin's elections for over a decade.

Democrats have shown they are untrustworthy and are willing to break the law to win.

In 2000, Constance Milstein used cigarettes to bribe the homeless in Milwaukee to vote for Al Gore.

A Park Ave. philanthropist accused of bribing homeless people in Milwaukee to vote for Al Gore in November has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine to settle her case.

Constance Milstein was in Milwaukee on the weekend before the Nov. 7 election to help Gore's presidential campaign drum up votes in hotly contested Wisconsin when a TV crew filmed her giving out packs of cigarettes, worth $3.25 each, to homeless men who had cast absentee ballots.

Prosecutors said that in handing out 10 packs of cigarettes, Milstein violated a Wisconsin election law that makes it a felony to induce someone to vote by providing anything worth more than $1.

But Kurt Benkley, an assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County, said prosecutors did not have enough evidence to file a criminal complaint against her because some witnesses had alcohol problems and many were difficult to locate.

Instead, the state filed a civil complaint.

Tim Metz, Milstein's spokesman, said, "She never had any idea she was doing anything wrong."

Of course, there are more documented cases to not trust Democrats to operate within legal limits.

Democrats attempted to suppress the vote in the 2004 presidential election when party workers slashed the tires twenty-five rented vans intended to transport voters to the polls on Election Day 2004.

Remember?

Michael Pratt, 33, and Lewis Caldwell, 29, were each sentenced to six months in jail while Lavelle Mohammad, 36, got five months and Sowande Omokunde, 26, got four months. Each was also fined $1,000. They will be eligible for work release and were allowed to surrender to begin their sentences within two weeks.

Pratt is the son of former Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt and Omokunde is the son of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.)

There's more:

Read the 67-page "Report of the Investigation into the November 2, 2004 General Election in Milwaukee."

And there's the case of DEMOCRAT State Senate candidate Donovan Riley. That was certainly an embarrassment for the Dems. Riley actually voted twice in 2000, in the same election on the same day in both Wisconsin and Illinois. His excuse?

"My best recollection is that I was splitting my time between Wisconsin and Illinois, and it's possible I made a mistake."

That's not a "mistake." No one votes in one state and then crosses the border and votes again. Absolutely impossible. AND RILEY WAS A CANDIDATE FOR STATE SENATE!

Yes. Trust.

For me, that's been out of the political relationship in Wisconsin since the turn of the century, and with good reason.

Kane continues:

Which brings us to the ultimate sign of mistrust for some.

Republicans in Madison are proposing a photo ID bill to combat voter fraud that has often been couched in terms of giving the public more confidence in the electoral process.

After what happened in Waukesha County last week, it's fair to say voter confidence is probably at a low ebb. And as some pointed out, a photo ID bill would have done nothing to prevent the fiasco.

Judging from my recent mail, there is apparently a hard-core group of readers who get outraged whenever election officials in Republican strongholds are accused of wrongdoing but have no problem claiming residents of the Democratic-leaning inner city routinely commit voter fraud.

Predictably, Kane whips out the race card.

I think the guy should start talking to more people and quit relying on his mail to measure public sentiment. Kane makes generalizations based on some wacko mail. He's been doing it for years, rehashing the same old tripe.

Donovan Riley isn't an inner city resident. Voter fraud is not an inner city issue. Why bring race into this discussion at all? It's a distraction. It deflects from the real problem.

Kane concludes:

I think the results of last week's election demonstrated that most voters want their voices heard and will turn out in large numbers to exercise that right. We don't have to trust each other, but at the very least we have to trust that the system works.

Kane is right that the error made by Kathy Nickolaus would not have been prevented by voter photo ID.

But, it's an illogical leap for Kane to suggest that means such a system isn't useful in helping to clean up Wisconsin's elections.

I want to know how many people voted illegally on April 5th. How many same-day on-site registrations were bogus?

At present, I don't trust the present system to prevent fraud.

Because of our policies, Wisconsin is a voter fraud haven.

Fairness is what matters. That means one person, one vote.

Whatever steps are necessary to achieve that need to be taken.

Budget Hearing: State Fair Park

Wisconsin politics has really been off-the-wall in 2011.

We have elected officials acting like utter buffoons.

Dan Bice, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, writes:

This is how you pour gasoline on what is already expected to be an explosive hearing at State Fair Park on Monday over Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget:

You do what state Rep. Tamara Grigsby did this weekend.

The Milwaukee Democrat accused the leaders of the Joint Finance Committee of taking steps, in advance, to shut down debate early on the budget bill - and then claimed they are doing this because they don't want to be near Milwaukee too late.

"They're scared to death of Milwaukee," Grigsby said. "They don't want to be here
after dark."

Without naming names, she said some of her fellow lawmakers share a "real fear about being in Milwaukee." Asked if she felt the committee leaders were acting on racist concerns, she said, "If it looks like a duck."

Grigsby quickly added, "I didn't use those words," referring to the notions of race or racism.

Joint Finance co-chairman Robin Vos said he was stunned by her remarks, saying Grigsby was leveling a baseless accusation.

First, he noted that the budget hearing, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is in West Allis, not Milwaukee.

In addition, the Rochester Republican said he and his wife had spent Saturday night at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, enjoying a good time in the city after dark.
"People can make up any lies they want," Vos said. "I just think it's stupid."

I have three words for Grigsby: SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.

Suggesting that the hearing is scheduled to allow fearful Republicans to be out of Milwaukee before dark is nuts.

Robin Vos appropriately condemns Grigsby's remarks.

Does Grigsby know that the hearing isn't in Milwaukee?

It's in West Allis.

Does Grigsby know when it gets dark?

On Monday, the sun will set at 7:30 PM.

If the time of the hearing really had something to do with leaders of the Joint Finance Committee "being scared to death" of the city after dark, as Grigsby claims, it wouldn't have to end at 6:00 PM.

EIGHT HOURS of testimony seems more than reasonable.

Grigsby's accusation that fellow legislators are racist, yet refusing to be specific and name names, is unforgivable. She's cruel and cowardly.

I think she's unwilling to be specific because she's lying. It's just more incendiary, over-the-top, crazy rhetoric from the Leftists.

Grigsby should retract her statement and apologize to her colleagues, or she should name the supposedly frightened Republicans.

It's funny that the Democrats are complaining about 10:00 - 6:00 being an inadequate time for the hearing. Just a few weeks ago, thousands of union members, teachers, walked off their jobs to protest in Madison. They didn't hesitate to shut down schools to attend and be heard.

Are we supposed to believe that 6:00 PM doesn't fit into their "schedules"? I don't think so.

...Several unions have events planned at State Fair all day, including a rally beginning at 4:30 p.m.

If union events at State Fair are being held ALL DAY, it certainly doesn't appear that the time of the hearing is a problem.

Bottom line: Spewing poisonous remarks is terribly irresponsible. I guess Lena Taylor and Tamara Grigsby can't help themselves.
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Details on the hearing:

What: The third of four budget hearings around the state conducted by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee.

Where: Wisconsin State Fair Park, West Allis. Expo Center, Hall A. Parking, enter Gate 4.

When: Public comments will be taken starting at 10 a.m. and are expected to continue until 6 p.m.

The Politics of the Wisconsin State Fair 2007

I love going to Wisconsin's annual summer celebration, the State Fair.

The music, the animals, the people, and the food, all those fantastic foods served on a stick -- I absolutely love it all.

If you haven't had a Wisconsin State Fair cream puff, you haven't lived.

There have been some major changes in the past five years, like the new grandstand and the Exposition Center, but the fair is so steeped in tradition that even those changes were incorporated into the atmosphere almost seamlessly.

This year, there are some changes at Herb Kohl's Milk Barn.

An improvement: You no longer pick one of the lines. Everyone gets in the same snake line. I like that since I always seem to get in the slowest moving one.

Not an improvement: For years, the Daily Schedule of Events booklet has had a coupon offering two cups of milk for the price of one. Not this year. Kohl gets elected to another term and then he raises his prices. That's cheesy.

As always, I have to check out the Exposition Center with all the salespeople hawking their wares -- slicers, dicers, juicers, cookware, blenders, mops, miracle cleaners, etc.

As always, the Republican and Democrat parties of Wisconsin have booths there.

The Republicans had a wide selection of '08 presidential campaign buttons for Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson. There was even a Thompson and Thompson ticket button, Fred and Tommy.

I don't remember seeing any John McCain buttons. I'm 100% certain there were none for Ron Paul.

The Democrats didn't have anything like that at their booth. There were a few old signs posted -- Doyle-Lawton, Feingold, Kohl, and Gwen Moore. There were no signs relating to the '08 presidential campaign. None.

There were two signs that I found very revealing.

They said:

IMPEACH BUSH NOW

Among the names of Wisconsin's governor and U.S. senators are two signs crying out to IMPEACH BUSH NOW.

This is what the Democrat Party of Wisconsin wants to promote to the mobs of people at the State Fair.

The Democrats actually think it's a good idea to present such a loony message. It's what they stand for.







The Democrats are the party of impeachment.

They want fairgoers to associate the call to impeach President Bush with Doyle, Kohl, Feingold, and Moore.

Very nice, Dems.

Why Me?

Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

When you look at the damage from the blast at Falk Corporation yesterday morning, it's amazing that there weren't more injuries and fatalities.

The explosion shattered windows blocks and blocks away.

It could be heard for miles. It was literally earthshaking.

For most of the Falk employees on the job when the explosion occurred, blessed relief and reunions with family and friends were waiting for them.

Only three people were killed and just a few sustained serious injuries.

Good news, right?

Thank God.

It could have been so much worse, right?

It's true. It could have been a lot worse.

Stories from survivors of the blast reflect their beliefs that God was with them during their ordeal.

One survivor, David Mays, said, "God has been good to me. He's been protecting me." When he smelled gas, he alerted his bosses and as many people as he could to warn them. Not only did he save himself, he led a half dozen of his co-workers to safety. He prayed that he'd make it home alive. Although his prayers were answered, Mays' gratitude is tempered by grief for the three men who were killed.

Otha Beamon, another survivor, commented, "I'd like to say I'm lucky to be here. God was with me this morning, and a lot more people. Thank you, Jesus, for being here. Thank you, Jesus."

Most of the employees and their families have reason to be thankful. They're together.

The explosion could have resulted in so many more deaths. It could have been so much worse.

But for three families, it couldn't have been any worse.

There were no miracles for them.

The dead were identified as Curtis Lane, 38, of Oconomowoc; Thomas M. Letendre, 49, of Milwaukee; and Daniel T. Kuster, 35, of Mayville.

I'm sure the victims' loved ones are thankful that others weren't killed; but I doubt they find solace in the fact that there were only three deaths in the massive explosion.

They must be wondering, "Why me? Why can't I be reunited with my husband or father or son or brother, like nearly everyone else?"

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes about the three victims:

Shocked relatives of those killed in Wednesday's explosion at Falk Corp. remembered their loved ones as hardworking employees who watched out for fellow workers and who were dedicated to their jobs and their families.

Daniel T. Kuster, 35, the youngest man killed in the explosion, was probably trying to help seal the propane gas leak that apparently led to the devastating blast, his uncle Tim Izydor said.

"He was most likely giving them a hand," Izydor said of his nephew, a second-generation Falk employee. "He was always that kind of guy. He always helped everybody."

...Kuster's father, Melvin Kuster, retired from Falk about two years ago after working there for about 40 years, Izydor said.

Melvin Kuster and his wife, Connie, now live in Oak Creek. Daniel was their only child.

...Curtis Lane, 38, worked at Falk for about 10 years in maintenance, friends said.

He and his wife of 11 years, Tina, also ran a day care center called Leap Into Learning in Oconomowoc.

The couple's two children are Nicholas, who will be 4 in January, and Allyson, 2.

...Friends described Curtis Lane as a hardworking family man who was devoted to his children.

"His kids were everything," Herzog said.

...Relatives of Thomas LeTendre, 49, of Milwaukee, who was also killed in the blast, declined comment.

A 1996 newspaper article described how for years LeTendre enjoyed running an old-fashioned concession stand at the Wisconsin State Fair with his parents and his seven siblings, selling items such as cotton candy, caramel apples and Sno-Kones.

"We grew up at the fair, and we couldn't go through the summer without it," the article quotes him as saying.

My heart goes out to the families of these men.

They have to be struggling with the reality that, in spite of the incredible property damage, there was little loss of life.

They have to be thinking why they were so unfortunate to have their loved one be among the three fatalities.

I understand that feeling, the anxiety. You tell yourself that the odds are everything will be fine. Things will be all right. You pray, then you learn that tragedy has touched you, the awful truth.

It's mercifully numbing for a while, too much to comprehend, surreal. But there's no escaping the reality eventually.

The pain is compounded by the Christmas season. It's a time of joy and beauty and family. It makes the mourning more difficult, and every year, the holidays serve as a vivid reminder of the loss. The sights and the sounds of the season trigger thoughts of the tragedy.

You ask God how He could let this happen. You get angry at the one you need the most -- God.

I'm thankful that the loss of life at Falk was not greater, but I'm mindful that for the victims' families, their loss is as great as it could be and it's for a lifetime.