Candy and ice cubes were thrown at Mark Belling

Charlie Sykes used his credibility as a noted author and journalist, and his stature as an employee of Journal Communications, to lend validity to a false story and then used his position as a conservative radio talk-show host to verify the claims. [After settling the libel action] Sykes went on the air bellowing about how he was ready to have his day in court. — Robert Miranda

Hilarious.

"Are they all fine with Lena Taylor, a respected member of their party in the legislature, being an accessory to voter fraud?"

These days Charlie Sykes is still accusing people of serious crimes.

Falsely? Could be a problem for the radio shouter and his employers.

Sykes based his statement on an e-mail he received from a listener. When he learned that the e-mail contained factual errors, he removed the posting from his blog within hours on November 12, 2004. Nevertheless, the posting was still available through Internet searches several months later.

That's one savvy fella right there. His disciples call him "the Blogfather."

Bury the lead much?

Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki signaled this week that the church would oppose some of those claims, because they are beyond the statute of limitations, but would continue to pay therapy and counseling costs for victims. That move could potentially bar victims from some of the church's most notorious offenders, such as the late Father Lawrence Murphy, who is believed to have molested as many as 200 deaf boys over the years, from being compensated through the bankruptcy.

Seventeenth of 17 paragraphs.

Also, where's Wisconsin Senator and constitutional expert Ron Johnson? He opposes those legal reforms that favor victims of child sexual abuse.

Clinging to his guns and his religion

Guy who allegedly tried to assassinate Obama.

Jesus, check.
Firearms, check.
Right-wing politics, check.

The total package.

The wing-nuts who cried fraud

Cory Liebmann, with the historical perspective.

"Other people believe there's significant [voter] fraud. There's a lot of people that feel that there is." — Rep. Jim Ott, 11.15.11

Others believe in faeries and feel there are leprechauns 'n' sprites.

And oh by the way the homeless, too, are a scourge.

Lawyer: Pepper spray "food product, essentially"

Only 5.3 million Scoville units per individual serving.

Where else but Fox News would you find this quality of apologetic.

See also:
Pepper spraying cop, he is everywhere.
Human trafficking, it's study abroad, essentially.

Media Trackers needs to put up or shut up

Recently we had Rick Esenberg, a professor of law at Marquette University, accusing nine Madison doctors of "fraud" even though there was no finding of any fraudulent behavior on the part of the doctors.

Then we had Prof. Esenberg's fellow Bradley Foundation beneficiary Charlie Sykes accuse two young women in Milwaukee of "recall fraud," even though both were well beyond voting age. Today we have this:

"[Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor] was, in fact, an accessory to one felon voting on April 5 when that individual, whenever that person was ineligible to vote under Wisconsin statutes," said Brian Sikma, a spokesman for Mequon-based Media Trackers.

Intentionally procuring, assisting, or advising someone to vote at any election if that person does not have the necessary elector qualifications is itself a felony. In other words, Mr. Sikma is accusing Sen. Taylor of committing a felony. Where's Sikma's evidence? He has none, because:

"At best, this is gross negligence that undermines the integrity of the election process," the Mequon-based Brian Sikma said.

Well, which is it? Negligence — "gross" or otherwise — denotes the absence of intent. So basically this character is accusing Sen. Taylor of a crime, but then he claims "at best" she didn't commit a crime. All of which is dutifully repeated, without any explanation, by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Apparently Brian Sikma doesn't know what the hell he's talking about, but he did manage to convince the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to generate a headline referring to voter fraud "allegations."

What they don't tell you is there's no substance to any of these "allegations" and there's no such thing in Wisconsin as "negligently" assisting someone to vote, even if Sen. Taylor had anything to do with the voting at all, and indeed there are no facts presented supporting the proposition that she did have anything at all to do with the voting.

Suffice to say this is not exactly local journalism's finest moment.

And we have months more of this B.S. to look forward to, where you can accuse anybody of anything you want, without facts or argument.

Pathetic.

Wisconsin conservatives attack the homeless now

Incredible.

Is this the sort of thing that Governor Walker's "leadership" inspires?

eta: And guess who clambers aboard.

Meet Charlie Sykes's "fraudulent" petitioners

Accusations of recall fraud fall flat:

"I feel like it's bad because you're judging a book by its cover and you don't know anything about us," said Ms. Love, who is 20.

Got that right. They saw your picture. That's all they needed to know.

Where are the photos with ID cards? The JS article says the DPW provided them, but why not show them and let viewers/readers decide? Media Trackers — here's some video evidence, we'll give you our opinion and even put a ? in the title to make it clear we're not making factual claims. JS — here's a claim the Democrats are making. We believe it, therefore, we don't have to show you the supposed "proof" the Democrats provided.

Nice try, counselor, but your reckless desperation is showing.

That's former Mike Gableman clerk/current Rick Esenberg associate — at the latter's Bradley Foundation-funded Kulturkampf law boutique, incidentally — Tom Kamenick demanding the two young ladies relinquish their right to privacy and assume the burden of production. Seems to me the burden is on Charlie Sykes, Media Trackers, and their disciples and in that production they all of them failed rather spectacularly.

Full retraction and apology from Charlie Sykes in the morning, I'm sure.

Stellar work, you Bradley Foundation "intellectuals."

GOP would never use courts to implement policy

Never, ever. Only liberals would do a thing like that, don't you know.

Come to think of it I might even have learned that bit of common wisdom from somebody that the Bradley Foundation paid to say it.

Maybe one of its "intellectuals." Definitely one of its hypocrites.

Charlie Sykes, ex post facto equivocator

Journal Communications, Inc.'s marquee performing hominid Charlie Sykes has "updated" his website in acknowledgement of a few facts he'd deliberately ignored earlier. Claims the medium wave shouter: "As I said this morning, viewers are invited to reach their own conclusions."

But that certainly is not what he said on his website this morning. There he announced unequivocally, "Recall Fraud Captured on Videotape" and "This video speaks volumes about the tactics, the ethics, and the practices of the recall organizers." That's all. This clown is so full of it.

I'm told Charlie Sykes is actually taken seriously in certain quarters.

Oh look, Bradley Foundation "intellectual" lied?

In shocking Journal-Sentinel exposé:

[Conservatives questioned] whether someone under 18 has signed a petition to recall Scott Walker but Graeme Zielinski, spokesman for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, released photos of the two holding their IDs that say they are 20 and 22 years old.

And conservatives didn't merely "question," they accused.

Just a reminder that this is what Journal Communications, Inc. is using the publicly-owned radio frequency 620 kHz for — spreading political lies.

Meet your Bradley Foundation "intellectuals"

This is always good for a laugh.

More fraud accusations from Bradley "intellectuals"

Charlie Sykes — "Recall Fraud Captured on Videotape"

Can you see the "fraud"? Because I can't. False accusations of fraud are becoming a habit with the Bradley Foundation's stable of "intellectuals."

Pretty desperate already, they are. Not to mention wildly irresponsible.

Michael Grebe, a lawyer by both profession and temperament

Really. Well maybe he better look into what his beneficiaries are saying.

"Speaking of fraud, can WTMJ PLEASE stop airing the Right Size Smoothies ad?" — Charlie Sykes blog commenter CleoOne

Haha. Is consumer fraud paying Charlie Sykes's bills?

Wisconsin, meet your enemy

"In some way or another, most [local] conservatives, I guess, would have a connection to us," said Michael Grebe.

The Bradley Foundation.

Where Charlie Sykes is an "intellectual." rofl

Funnier still, the Bradley Foundation promotes "competent government," which apparently refers to powerful legislative committees chaired by the likes of Jim Ott, Mary Lazich, Leah Vukmir, and Glenn Grothman.

And their top attorney plays fast and loose with legal terms of art.

Nothing terribly "intellectual" about that either.

Recall Scott Walker: 105K signatures in four days

Heather DuBois Bourenane, a volunteer with United Wisconsin, announced that more than 105,000 signatures to recall Scott Walker have been collected in the first four days of the process.

435,000 to go, and 56 days.

Republicans angry Ozanne follows Republican law

Item: Dane County district attorney won't charge Facebook poster

Hey, if you don't like it, then stop electing Republican judges:

Some factors that courts and juries should consider when applying this test include, but are not limited to . . . whether [the threat] was communicated directly to its victim. — Jon P. Wilcox

Justice Wilcox was elected with the kind assistance of Mark "Banned From Politics" Block. His successor is WMC Justice Annette Ziegler.

Now here the threat was communicated directly to its victim.

When the governor was notified, he cranked out a form letter.

And they're pissed off at Ozanne? Get real.

Wing-nut treasurer misleads about recall petitions

Isn't that special. This character is a "constitutional officer."

Wisconsin treasurer Kurt Schuller tweeted some legal advice ...

And he's not a lawyer either. Got some real dandies over there folks.

Scott Walker cares deeply about your death threats

The first comment is the governor of Wisconsin's form letter response.

Disgraceful.

Sure Walker gets a lot of mail, but you'd expect the public relations geniuses who surround him to take note of a letter that begins, "Dear Scott Walker, Today I received a death threat to me and my family."

But no.

Do recalls cause the heartbreak of psoriasis?

Check out this laughably transparent, self-serving propaganda:

[R]ecall fever is sweeping Wisconsin politics ... and a top Republican wonders if the political turmoil is weakening the will of employers to expand.

Not coincidentally, the said "top Republican" is Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who is getting recalled as we speak.

Organizers* announced they collected 50,000 recall petitions during the first 48 hours. They need about 540,000 signatures in 60 days. So expect to hear all manner of fabricated nonsense from Wisconsin Reporter and their WISGOP taskmasters for the next little while.

You remember Wisconsin Reporter, they pilfered the other party's documents. They are not journalists, they are a Republican front.

* Download a petition at this link. Do it for Wisconsin Reporter.

Chief Flynn doesn't care about #OWS protesters

"They can sit and freeze their butts off, I don't care."

As they discussed their options, a white van somehow skirted police barricades on the west end of the bridge and sped past, close to the demonstrators. Police halted the van on the other end of the bridge and arrested its driver. — Journal-Sentinel

Okay well he cares about them a bit.

Charlie Sykes wants WRTL charged also

Charlie Sykes petitions the Milwaukee County district attorney:

Will you be as zealous in commenting on promises to pay cash and/or other free inducements in return for signatures?

See, this is what I'm sayin'!

(The medium wave dissembler lives in Ozaukee County so apparently Scott Walker's* "tort reforms" included for wing-nut forum shopping.)

* Download a recall petition at the link. Do it for Charlie Sykes.

eta: Speaking of Charlie Sykes:

MKE alderman Bob Bauman said the number of streetcar opponents speaking Wednesday was "pretty pathetic," considering the volume of talk radio commentary against the project.

Poor Sykes is slipping since he singlehandedly elected David Prosser.

Madison doctors "openly engaged in fraud"

Comical:

One of the most amazing things was to see doctors openly engaged in — it's not too strong a word — fraud and justify it on the grounds of "social activism." — law professor Rick Esenberg

It's not too strong a word, he says. That was a baseless accusation when he made it in February and it remains a baseless accusation today:

Attorneys for the doctors stressed that there was no finding they issued any fake sick notes or engaged in fraudulent behavior.

We presume Rick Esenberg, being a professor of law, knows what fraud means and that it's a pretty serious accusation to make, especially with not one shred of support. But "fraud" was — and still is — the standard wing-nut refrain. What do they care that there was "no finding" of any fraudulent behavior. Funnier still is that a few months earlier, Esenberg had admonished Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate for mistakenly claiming that — of all people — Herman Cain's notorious chief of staff, Mark "Banned From Politics" Block had committed a crime.

Moreover Esenberg said Tate's comments "may themselves have legal consequences." As far as I'm aware, they didn't. And of course Mark Block is in all kinds of trouble these days, and his candidate is a liar.

Ladies and gentlemen, your conservative and fact-free Republicans.

Bomb thrower still celebrating Prosser election

Officers found that the rock was thrown just above a sign supporting the recall of Scott Walker. In addition, there was a note taped to the rock making reference to voting for last spring's Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg.

Sore losers are common, derangedly obsessive sore winners much less so.

Walker: March showed disregard for my neighbors

Such as this neighbor?

People were signing recall petitions at a table set up in Cale Ziemer's driveway. His N. 68th St. home is a few houses from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's. — Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Sounds like a whole lot of them are pretty pleased.

eta: The Brawler debunks the obligatory Charlie Sykes horseshit.

Milwaukee gun enthusiast invites weapons charge

Interesting tale:

"My client very much believes she was within her rights," attorney Rebecca Coffee said. "But the issue remains unresolved — what effect does elimination of the unlawful transport [of a gun] statute have on the new concealed carry law? It's understandable that people want to know what's legal and what's not legal. There's some unresolved interpretation here."

And that's why the DA needs to charge Wisconsin Right to Life also.

What's the Treasurer of Wisconsin up to today?

Campaigning pretty hard for Scott Walker, from the looks of it.

On the public dime?

Jim Ott's critical thinking skills quote of the day

"Other people believe there's significant [voter] fraud. There's a lot of people that feel that there is." — Rep. Jim Ott, 11.15.11

That's a Wisconsin lawmaker justifying his Republican Party's photo ID law that will make it more difficult for more people* to exercise what Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack says is a First Amendment right. But the really sad thing is that's as good as their argument gets.

Ott went on to convict three individuals — who were named in the press but not charged with anything — of voter fraud with no evidence at all.

And this character is actually in charge of a legislative committee.

* Democratic-leaning demographics, not coincidentally.

Lester Pines explains how politics works

The issue is not about the Governor and the Legislature cutting spending. That would have been accomplished without trying to destroy or marginalize public employee unions. Governor Walker's attempt to do so was motivated by a desire to eliminate the main opponents of the political and social agenda of the [national] Republican Party, not to ensure that State and municipal budgets were balanced. Majority Leader Fitzgerald has acknowledged that. The opposition to Governor Walker derives from his gross political miscalculations that were caused by hubris. If a governor tries to eliminate his political opponents he must ensure that he is completely successful or they will come back to haunt him, just as the unions have done to Governor Walker. Like it or not, that is how politics works. — Lester Pines

On teh web: Lester Pines.

Scott Walker shuts down three Waukesha schools

"We have 25 schools," says a School District of Waukesha board member in a Scott Walker defense campaign video. But according to the district's website, "There are 28 schools in the district." Off to a flying start.

"Walker, he gave us options that reduced our biggest costs."

Schools!

Fitzgerald suddenly appalled at presidential politics

Big Fitz speculates:

"Is this going to be a fight that ultimately is going to be OK'd by the White House and is President Obama involved in it and really is this about Wisconsin being ground zero for the president?" Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said. "If you see 30, 40 million dollars dumped in, you know it's about presidential politics and not just about recalling Governor Walker." — WisPolitics

Perhaps Scott Fitzgerald has forgotten he revealed to Fox News in March that the WISGOP agenda was devoted to thwarting Obama's reelection chances in Wisconsin. Or else he hopes others have forgotten. In either event Sen. Fitzgerald certainly has no grounds to complain about it now.

After all, he started it. No crying towel for him.

Occupy Penny's Farm

Down On Penny's Farm — The Bently Boys

Wisconsin — Your recalls begin Tuesday

Ed Fallone: The Original Intent of the Recall Power

Great stuff, as usual, required reading from Prof. Fallone.

WISGOP warned us about election fraud

Little did we know it was planned by WISGOP disciples.

Will Scott Walker and his acolytes condemn these cheap tricks?

"Carried ... Fitz first."

Recall Senate Majority Leader Republican Scott Fitzgerald:

Scott Fitzgerald presided over at least two legislative sessions that we believe violated Wisconsin’s open meetings laws, and he coordinated the most egregious case of partisan gerrymandering our State has ever seen.

Yep.

Ron Johnson: "Pandering" to veterans

According to RoJo's very own guru, Jim DeMint.

Those crazy kids and their Twilight novels

Bound masochist draws the line after 299th puncture wound

Taste the whip ...

WISGOP to hold thorough public hearing today

Pretty much says it all.

Mark "Banned From Wisconsin Politics" Block lied

Shocking, I know. By the way, how the heck do you get banned from the most dishonest game in town (Wisconsin Supreme Court elections)?

That's quite the achievement.

"Officials of both parties have been threatened."

Then why is this story entirely about the Republican Scott Walker?

And lest we forget.

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Quote of the Day

"We are obliged — and this might well be our most important consideration — to presume that acts of Congress are constitutional. Appellants have not made a clear showing to the contrary." — Seven-Sky a.k.a. Sevensky v. Holder

Better luck next time.

Recall Scott Walker, the Heathen

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil[*], neither also is it in them to do good.

— Jeremiah 10:2-5

* Debatable.

Herman Cain: The playlist

The Treniers — Uh Oh (Get Out Of The Car)

Newt you devious bastidge

What if the Cain Story Came from . . . Gingrich!

They'd be fools if they didn't

Scott Walker campaign donor forms Scott Walker recall committee

Always watch out for "earliest possible dates." Things happen on them.

In Walker's case, unlimited financial contributions.

"Loophole" WISGOP

Assume a man kills his wife in cold blood in the family home without witnesses. I suggest that a man who is willing to kill his wife is not squeamish about committing perjury. If he takes the stand and claims that he mistakenly thought she was an intruder, under AB 69, the jury must be instructed that he is presumed to have reasonably believed that force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself. The jury, in effect, is prevented from considering if his act was unreasonable. Although no prosecutor, judge, or defense attorney knows of a single case where a home owner has been criminally charged for shooting an intruder, each of us is sadly aware of many cases where spouses kill each other. This law erects a presumption in favor of abusive spouses. — The Section opposes Assembly Bill 69.

That's criminal defense lawyers who oppose it.

Not to put too fine a point on it ...

Wisconsin Special Session "Back to Work" A Shitstorm of Stupidity

Because sometimes you have to be blunt.

Nick Milroy for Governor

Why not?

Get thee behind me, Sen. Moulton

Recall on Sen. Terry Moulton (see comments)?

We remember him.

Leftist high-tech lynching of Herman Cain continues

Via notorious Democratic left-liberal muckrakers ... Pajamas Media.

What gets me is that the women at the center of the controversies are abiding by their non-disclosure agreements while Herman Cain is running around not-so-subtly disparaging them, although that may change soon.

Can you say "constructive waiver," Herman Cain?

Meanwhile Cain's popularity is soaring among the "Family Values" set.

Our Blocks are so much better than their Blocks

Working illegally in concert with a Supreme Court justice's campaign

Not surprisingly, a conservative Republican Supreme Court justice, who was fined $10,000. That court monitors attorneys' professional ethics.

Which may well be the darkest joke in the State.

Wilcox: Fined $10K
Ziegler: Public reprimand
Gableman: Violated two ethics provisions
Prosser: Under investigation

Although the theory of moral authority still works on paper, I suppose.