Citing "an impossible timeline" (translation: we weren't willing to pay people to do a futile job and we couldn't get enough volunteers) Walker's spokeswoman Ciara "Rove" Matthews stated "recall organizeers were given 60 days to collect signatures, twice the time the campaign was given to review them" (translation: 1 million signatures sure is a lot!) and then went on to say "It obviously takes more time to verify signatures than it does to collect them." (translation: using the word "obviously" might make me credible).
So, if the recall is certified this week, the official count for elections will begin next Tuesday. They'll count 6 weeks for the Democratic primary (making that date April 10) and then they'll count an additional 4 weeks from that, bringing our recall election date to May 8.
The question on everybody's mind: what skullduggery are they concocting? Tactically, it behooves them to speed things up now, and concomitantly slow down the John Doe investigation into Walker's alleged corruption while serving as Milwaukee County Executive.
It is also possible that by leaving the signatures uncontested, they can continue to lay claims to a fraudulent process of signature gathering, undermining the public's confidence in the process. Their own checking the signatures would prove that there was no verifiable fraud, thus disallowing their spurious claims which continue on rightwing radio.
Walker continues to hammer away at the notion that he will be "woefully outspent" by union money "pouring into Wisconsin" and that "if we're able to break through the money gap and get our message out to compete with all this money from out of state interests, then I think we can win." (translation: if I say it enough, will people believe it?)
Walker also cites the "field organization" on the side of the recall, saying that "They had more field staff and campaign offices than even some presidential campaigns have had in our state."(translation: I can't believe how many people hate what I've done to this state!)
So there is one more small hurdle - the official verification from GAB, which should come this week, and Walker is "RECALLED."
(I guess I better get those "E" and "D" signs made!)
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Donate to Wis Dems on Act Blue (and help support a great ad that compares Walker to "I am not a crook!" Nixon).
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UPDATE: Walker's campaign is trying to use the front group, "Verify the Recall" as the challenging party to the signatures. This from Politiscoop:
Madison – Scott Walker’s campaign today stated that they did not wish to challenge recall signatures directly, it now turns out Walker wants to use the challenges from the front group “Verify the Recall”. This is yet another sign of dishonesty or sleight of hand from Gov. Scott Walker.
The Government Accountability Board has confirmed the filing from Walker’s campaign but has yet to make a determination on the validity of using such a mechanism to challenge recall signatures. The GAB had previously ruled that challenges must come from the candidate, not outside groups. This is just another example of Scott Walker telling the public one thing, then skirting around the truth.
Here is the
PDF that is filed on behalf of Verify the Recall.
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UPDATE 2: Begging Edition (to quote from Puddytat!)
Lori Compas is running against the porcine politics of Mr. Scott Fitzgerald. She is the one who single-handedly organized a successful recall against him. (The larger institutions said it wasn't worth the effort, that he was unassailable). If you are feeling generous, send her some love via Act Blue.