As diaried by noise of rain, Giles Goat Boy, and stcroix cheesehead, the unveiling of the Republican gerrymandering redistricting efforts here in Wisconsin involve a whole clandestine Top Secretiness Nework of lawyers and leaders as well as the oaths of secrecy that Republican Legislators were required to sign. It's been juicy and delicious particularly coming out at the same time that more Walker aides have been criminally charged and Scotty himself will be meeting with prosecutors in the ongoing year and a half John Doe Probe.
It makes me anxious to check out the news every morning for the latest details and anything new. The skeletons have been falling out of Republican closets at a record pace.
Of course, Republicans are experts in phony outrage, pearl clutching, whining and playing the victim every time things don't go their way. It's never, ever their fault, of course. It's always (... fill in the blank with some "evil" person, organization, ideology, or invented enemy...) that's at fault. Plus, they usually say they've been "misundersood", "taken out of context", "politically prosecuted", "victims of a smear campaign" or whatever baloney excuse they think they can sell to a gullible public via their RW radio and Faux Made Up News media megaphone.
Today, they're rolling out the BS on the gerrymandering redistricting efforts which have been smacked down royally by a 3 judge panel.
Of course, they're not addressing anything important regarding the maps they created and then rammed through the State Legislature. They're also not addressing the Pact of Secrecy or the availability of the maps only at the law firm that was "advising them" and available only to those who signed the Super Duper Uber Ultra Top Secret Oath of Secrecy (not even their aides were able to view the map).
Nope. Because they've been caught red handed, with their pants down in a conspiracy to guarentee at least a decade of Republican control of the State Legislature and Wisconsin Congressional delegation. And with that control, they would be able to redistrict then, too.
Naw, they're denying that they used talking points in their redistricting conspiracy. Yes, ignore these major crimes and collusion over here and focus on this tiny piece of dust over there. Nothing to see over there - look over here!
LAME! And so full of fail, but it's all they've got to work with so use it they will!
The talking points appear to have been produced in June by Adam Foltz, an aide to Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) who helped draw new election maps. The talking points said Republican lawmakers should ignore comments other than those made by leaders during private meetings.
"Public comments on this map may be different than what you hear in this room. Ignore the public comments," the memo said.
Of course, Jeff Fitzgerald, the Republican Speaker in the Assembly, is refusing all requests for an interview and hasn't even issued a statement, but when your brother, Scott* is the State Senate Majority Leader, he'll do the talking for you.
"I've never seen that and no other member of my caucus has seen that," Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) said Tuesday when shown a copy of the talking points. "It wasn't put together for me."
Of course it wasn't put together for you. It was put together for your brother who runs the Assembly!
Scott Fitzgerald said the confidentiality agreements were used because redistricting is unique in the legislative process.
Really? I've never seen it before, and neither have any of the Democrats.
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) said he had never before seen lawmakers in the state sign confidentiality agreements about legislation. Barca said the secrecy was "simply scandalous" and ran against the state's values of open government.
They have to say something about the Redistricting Scandal and also in order to distract from their ram through of an anti-environmental Mining Bill and from stuff like this:
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So today this is their story and they're sticking to it.
This just keeps on getting better and better. Would this be considered Fitzenfreuden?
Stay tuned for future developments.
* Scott Fitzgerald is one of 4 State Senators who have had recall petitions filed by The People with the Government Accountability Board.
12:43 PM PT: I'll be back later tonight. Right now I volunteered some time databasing Walker petition signatures for the Democrats GOTV here.
10:07 PM PT: I'm finally back. Had some dinner and a nap after I got home. I came to check the comments and was rather surprised to see this on the Rec List. When I left it had a few lovely comments and was fading away down the Recent List. So now I'm off to read all your words of wisdom (and, hopefully, some snark).