Greetings to all followers of goings-on in the Badger State.
We've had several updates here on the recall front. Of course, we've also got a recount - we thank Giles Goat Boy for keeping us updated.
The state Democratic Party has challenged the GOP's recall efforts against three Democratic senators. Should these challenges fail, Sen. Jim Holperin now has a card-carryin' member of the Tea Party as an opponent.
More after the break.
On the recall petitions against Democratic senators:
They're a mess. If you've been following, there have been allegations of signature-buying with drinks and of deceptive practices. Out-of-state paid canvassers used outright lies to get signatures.
And the petitions themselves were a mess. Whole sheets had only the signers mailing address - not their legal city/village/town, which is a statutory requirement. (out) None of the sheets had a space for the signers printed names, so if the signature is illegible... (out). Some of the petitions I perused had multiple signatures from the same household in the same handwriting. (out)
The net result:
GOP Election Fraud Exposed
MADISON – A formal challenge to be filed later today against Republican recall petitions asks the Government Accountability Board to disqualify thousands of invalid signatures, and reject recall elections against three Democratic state senators, because widespread and systemic election fraud has tainted the entire GOP operation.
The challenge of GOP recall petitions features scores of claims from Wisconsin citizens who were victimized by the wholesale election fraud of the disreputable out-of-state firm hired by Wisconsin Republicans to collect signatures. Kennedy Enterprises received nearly $100,000 from the Republican Party of Wisconsin to circulate recall petitions. Kennedy owns a tarnished reputation based on past offenses in Colorado.
The Democratic challenge shows that Kennedy Enterprises has continued these fraudulent practices while working for Wisconsin Republicans.
Some of the cases and examples of election fraud outlined in the formal recall challenge of GOP petitions to be filed this afternoon include:
* Senate District 12: Of the 534 people contacted who had signed the petition, 9.2% indicated they were misled into signing the petition or asserted they had never signed.
* Senate District 22: Of the 225 people contacted who had signed the petition, 6.6% indicated they were misled into signing the petition or asserted they had never signed.
* Senate District 30: Of the 372 people contacted who had signed the petition, 8.6% indicated they were misled into signing the petition or asserted they had never signed.
* Affidavit of a World War II veteran from Green Bay who was misled into signing a recall petition. Upon learning he had been duped, veteran called the sheriff to get his name removed. When confronted, the circulator claims he will remove the name, but a later review of the petitions reveals the veteran's name was never crossed off.
* Many affidavits attesting that Circulator Sherri Ferrell - who gathered nearly 3,000 signatures in two districts -- gathered signatures on Indian reservations claiming petitions were to support "schools," "Democrats," and "tribal rights."
* Affidavit of voter in Senate District 22 attesting that circulator John Prijic claimed the petitions were for work to be done on a local park.
* Affidavit of voter in Senate District 30 attesting that circulator Annette Lord claimed the petitions were to recall Republican Senator Cowles.
* Affidavit of voter in Senate District 30 attesting that circulator Richard Madrill claimed the petitions were to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
* William Pocan’s forged name appears on line 10, page 362 of circulator Kevin Pursell’s petition. As his widow Corinne Pocan’s affidavit attests, William Pocan has been deceased 20 years, although his name remains in the phone book. Pursell circulated numerous pages.
* Claims by many Wisconsin citizens who were misled by out-of-state circulators who claimed they could sign on behalf of other people.
* Numerous examples of fake addresses and signatures appearing on GOP recall petitions, as well as sloppily gathered signatures also missing critical information.
* Summary of out-of-state circulators hired by GOP with largest percentages of fraud or deception on GOP recall petitions:
The GOP drinks the TEA
Senator Jim Holperin has been mentioned as perhaps in the most danger in any recall election, assuming it happens. He just got a candidate... the president of the "Northwoods Patriots" and leader of the northern Wisconsin tea party.
Tea Party leader running for 12th district seat
Think they might have found a nice, middle-of-the-road republican to run? Nah, such a beast has been driven underground, or maybe eaten by a Hodag that hasn't had its fill of white bulldogs (inside Wisconsin joke).
Can't wait to see where she stands on the issues... but since she's got her own radio show on Northwoods Patriot Talk Radio I think it will be pretty easy to find out. (I can't go there right now, I haven't eaten yet and just the website design makes me queasy).
Lots more fun too, including a candidate against Sheila Harsdorf and possibly one against Alberta Darling. I'll leave that to the discussion!