Blogging Blue » From the Emailbox

The Once and Future Shill

Phil Scarr — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:19:17 +0000

Shill: A shill, plant or stooge is a person who helps a person or organization without disclosing that he or she has a close relationship with that person or organization. Shill typically refers to someone who purposely gives onlookers the impression that he or she is an enthusiastic independent customer of a seller (or marketer of ideas) that he or she is secretly working for. The person or group that hires the shill is using crowd psychology, to encourage other onlookers or audience members to purchase the goods or services (or accept the ideas being marketed). Shills are often employed by confidence artists.

Rick Esenberg is, and always will be, a partisan hack. A mouthpiece trotted out before the press by the state GOP to render his “opinions” on a variety of topics that affect the lives of the people of Wisconsin. The trouble is, Professor Rick is a lawyer, and his opinions are different from yours or mine. I don’t mean that he holds different opinions, I mean that his opinions are part of his job as an attorney. When he is asked to “render an opinion,” he is bound by the canons of ethics for lawyers in Wisconsin. Lawyers are paid and expected to render opinions based on the facts and not on the party line. In his zeal to play the slavish lapdog to his Republican masters, he sometimes forgets this. He and Michael Gableman share this trait. But Professor Rick has never been bothered by ethical conflicts in the past, so why should he start now?

He can be guaranteed to toe the party line each and every time. The GOPs pet law professor.

So it’s always satisfying when he gets his ass handed to him in public by Peter Earle. Watch from a hearing on redistricting from July, 2011.

What makes this video so disturbing (and it is disturbing) is that, at the time, Peter Earle wondered publicly what information Professor Rick might have had access to that the rest of the hearing participants did not. How was Professor Rick able to render a legal opinion on data in such a short period of time?

Well silly me for thinking the GOP would ever play by the rules of governance. As it turns out, Voices de la Frontera, Earle’s client at the time, have now filed a complaint with the state that the GOP violated the open records law in their redistricting process.

Documents released yesterday showed that virtually all G-O-P lawmakers signed confidentiality agreements which promised not to discuss the maps while they were being written. And they were told that those who speak out could be called as witnesses in court. The documents also said that 33-of-the-58 Republican Assembly members would pick up additional voters under the new districts. The documents were released after three federal judges in the redistricting suit said G-O-P legislators filed frivolous legal requests, so they could hide their actions in creating the new maps. Those maps will be used for the first time in this fall’s elections unless the courts overturn them.

The complaint states, in part:

On June 20, 2011, Adam Foltz drafted a document captioned “General Talking Points” which he described during his sworn testimony on February 1, 2012, as talking points to guide the discussion at each of the individual meetings he had with each member of the Assembly who had previously signed a secrecy agreement. The talking points memo stated that the redistricting bill was a “placeholder map” and that “if the Senate comes back in the majority, we may come back and adjust.” Mr. Foltz testified at his deposition that the preceding sentence was referring to the then pending recall elections that were scheduled for August 9, 2011. The talking points memo also stated that “Public comments on this map may be different than what you hear in this room. Ignore the public comments.” The talking points memo then explicitly stated that the previously signed secrecy agreement applied to the individual meeting between Mr. Foltz and each individual Republican representative…. (emphasis in original)

The complaint asserts that this entire process is a violation of the Open Meetings law, a law these clowns have tripped over in the past.

So the real question I have is what did Professor Rick know and when did he know it? He certainly seemed to have some special knowledge back in July to which no one else was privy. He rendered an opinion of the fairness of the redistricting. We’re left with only two conclusions:

1. Professor Rick is incompetent and rendered a legal opinion on a limited understanding of the facts in evidence
2. Professor Rick is corrupt and rendered a legal opinion on preferential access to facts not in evidence

Which is it, Professor Rick? Take your pick…

Falk to hold “Your Voice, Your Wisconsin” campaign announcement tour

Zach W — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:17:09 +0000

From my email inbox comes news of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk’s “Your Voice, Your Wisconsin” campaign announcement tour, which will begin tomorrow morning in Milwaukee.

During her “Your Voice, Your Wisconsin” tour, Falk will meet with community and recall leaders, local supporters and citizens concerned about Wisconsin’s future.

Falk’s “Your Voice, Your Wisconsin” tour will hold events in five cities throughout Wisconsin:

Tuesday February 7, 2012
Milwaukee
Time: 8:00-9:00 a.m.
Location: Milwaukee Area Technical College, Downtown Campus, 1015 North Sixth Street

Green Bay
Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: Brown County Public Library Central Branch, 515 Pine Street, Boardroom

Wausau
Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Wausau Labor Temple, 318 South 3rd Avenue, Room 13

Wednesday February 8, 2012
Eau Claire
Time: 8:00-9:00 a.m.
Location: Chippewa Valley Technical College – Clairemont Campus, 620 West Clairemont Avenue Business and Education Center, Room 284B

La Crosse
Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main Street, Trustees Room

Upcoming health care listening sessions in Milwaukee County (ANNOUNCEMENT)

Zach W — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:22:09 +0000

From my email inbox comes news of a bunch of upcoming healthcare listening sessions hosted by Citizen Action of Wisconsin and their allies:

In addition to the listening sessions noted above, you can also register to be a part of a virtual listening session from the comfort of your own home.

Another Exoneration releases “Not My Governor” to engage young people, support recall efforts

Zach W — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:43:15 +0000

Last week Another Exoneration, a western Wisconsin rap group, released the song “Not My Governor” as part of their effort to both engage Wisconsin’s young people and support the recalls efforts here in Wisconsin.

Another Exoneration member Blake Auler-Murphy, aka Hyphon, said he’s excited about the democracy that the recalls have caused, adding that he hopes the song will “engage young people” to help elect “anyone but Walker” in a recall election.

Here’s the song:

Not My Governor/Not My Lover 2 Pack by Another Exoneration

According to the Another Exoneration website, a portion of all purchases will be donated to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and their effort to recall Governor Walker.

How can we overturn Citizens United? With cute cats, cuter babies, and mentos geysers!

Zach W — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:15:23 +0000

From my email inbox comes this video from Negin Farsad and the Vaguely Qualified Productions team, who are hoping to inject some comedy into the fight against Citizens United with a video starring Katrina vanden Heuvel (Editor/Publisher of The Nation), Cenk Uygur (Host, Current TV’s Young Turks), Ben & Jerry from Ben & Jerry’s, Laura Flanders (Host/Author), and the esteemed Jim Hightower!

Did I mention the video also stars a cute cat, not to mention an even cuter baby? And a Mentos geyser?

This video has it all!

A Correction: Dr. Tim Nerenz

Phil Scarr — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:16:57 +0000

Sometimes my zeal gets the best of me. I would like to issue an apology and a correction to my piece on Dr. Nerenz, Libertarian Hypocrite of the Week. He did indeed write a dissertation for his Ph.D. I was mistaken and I apologize for calling into question his bona fides and his educational accomplishments.

Although I remain undeterred in my proof that his libertarian philosophy is a direct contradiction of the way his company does business through government contracts, his academic accomplishments are not at issue here nor should they have been.

The Wisconsin Uprising: What did we learn and how can we go forward? [Event Announcement]

Zach W — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:54:55 +0000

From my email inbox comes news of an informal panel in Madison on Friday, January 6th to discuss the “Wisconsin Uprising” and how to move forward.

Here’s the details:

The Wisconsin Uprising:
What did we learn and how can we go forward?
Friday, January 6th, 6:00 pm
Arboretum Cohousing, 1137 Erin St. Madison WI

Join us for an informal panel followed by lots of discussion. Casual dinner starts around 6:00pm, Talk & Discussion starts around 7:00pm. We have a nice indoor playspace for kids. Everyone Welcome!

The panel includes: J. Eric Cobb, former executive director of the Building Trades Council and currently running for president of the of South Central Federation of Labor. Bill Fetty, Chair of the Autonomous Solidarity Organization & a mystery speaker to be added shortly.

Here’s the event on Facebook if you are so inclined.

https://www.facebook.com/events/301058073268813/

Chicago Cubs put their hotel stays to good use

Zach W — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:18:27 +0000

This is a neat story…

You know those small bars of soap and tiny shampoo bottles in your hotel room? Maybe you keep them as a souvenir from your trip, or perhaps you just leave them for the next guest.

Jimmy Bank, the Cubs’ traveling secretary, found people who need them.

There are folks who can’t afford a bar of soap. There are families that have a tough time buying shampoo because they need to allocate that money toward food.
“To have people figure out a way to use things they aren’t going to use is just really thoughtful,” said Karen Tredwell. (Carrie Muskat)

The Cubs spend more than 80 days in hotels each year, which is a lot of soap and shampoo. For the past two years, Bank has asked the players and staff to donate any unused toiletries, which he ships to the Waukesha Food Pantry, a few miles outside Milwaukee. Those tiny bars and bottles are prized possessions.

“Jimmy said, ‘I’ve got this idea — what do you think?’” said Karen Tredwell, the pantry’s executive director. “I don’t know if he realized it, but … you can’t use food stamps for shampoo or conditioner or deodorant or toothpaste or any of that stuff. Even the small travel sizes are seen kind of like gold around here.

As heartwarming as this story is, there’s definitely a lesson that could be learned for conservatives, thanks to this quote:

“He said, ‘Mom, I get why you do what you do,’” she said. “He said, ‘It’s kind of like Roberto Clemente. When people have a lot, it’s our job to help those who have a little so it’s more fair.’

An open letter to Tonette Walker

Zach W — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:46:04 +0000

From my email inbox comes this little nugget (titled “Holiday Spirit”) from Tonette Walker, the wife of Republican Gov. Scott Walker:

Zach

Scott, Matt, Alex, and I wish you and your family a blessed holiday season.

While we may differ on how to address the challenges we face together, there are many things we share. It’s important to focus on those things, such as our sense of community and service to our friends and neighbors. The holiday season is a time of giving and rejoicing in the blessings we have as both Wisconsinites and as Americans.

Our family recently joined about 200 other volunteers to help prepare the Milwaukee Rescue Mission’s Christmas celebration. Our family is blessed to have so much to be thankful for and it is important for us to give back to those in need.

Here’s my response to Tonette Walker:

Tonette:

Thank you for your holiday wishes.

You’re absolutely correct that we differ on how to address the challenges we face in our state, because you and your husband seem to believe in an ideology that works to put more money into the pockets of corporations and the rich at the expense of so many middle and lower class citizens and families here in Wisconsin. The holiday season is indeed a time of giving and rejoicing in the blessing we have, but thanks to the ideologically extreme policies of your husband, far too many Wisconsinites are finding they can’t give as much and have less to rejoice about.

No doubt your family is blessed to have so much to be thankful for because your husband not only draws a healthy six figure salary from the taxpayers of Wisconsin, but he also received a raise earlier this year. Unfortunately, my family and I don’t have as much to be thankful for, because while your husband got a nice raise, he made sure to cut my take-home pay by thousands of dollars this year alone. If you and your husband were so concerned about “giving back” to those in need, I’d strongly encourage you to engage in an open, honest dialogue with just a few of the many middle class public employees who are now struggling mightily just to make ends meet thanks to the steps your husband has taken in the name of his political ideology.

Zach W.
Husband, father, and public employee

The BizTimes Gets It Wrong

Phil Scarr — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:52:30 +0000

Why can’t we have a better press corps? Don’t rewrite what you don’t understand. If you’re going to be a conduit for press releases, just release the damn press releases!

What they wrote:

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly report showing Wisconsin’s unemployment rate actually dropped in October to 7.3 percent from 7.7 percent.

What the DWD actually said:

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly report showing Wisconsin’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 percent from 7.7 percent.

Notice the difference? The BizTimes rewrote history to say that the BLS had gotten the October unemployment rate wrong. Nope, not even close. What the DWD was actually reporting were the November unemployment numbers. This is confirmed on the BLS website and in the data provided by the DWD.

What was corrected by the BLS were the job-loss numbers, but they’re not relevant to the unemployment number.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Wisconsin’s revised numbers show the state lost 2,400 jobs in October, roughly a 75 percent correction from their initial estimate of 9,700 jobs. Meanwhile, Wisconsin added 11,000 jobs in June, but BLS initially underestimated that number by roughly 1,500 jobs.

Quality business reporting is hard to come by these days, I guess.