BREAKING UPDATE: Lake Mills & Kloppenburg FTW!
*UPDATE* – The last remaining precinct, the town of Lake Mills, has come in with a 50-50 split, preserving Kloppenburg’s razor thin statewide margin. (The local county clerk reports Prosser picked up 2 votes in Lake Mills, giving the challenger a 209 vote statewide edge.)
(Madison, WI) Just 224 votes, out of a total of roughly 1.5 million cast, separate incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser from liberal Challenger Assistant AG Joanne Kloppenburg. Wisconsin is waiting on the totals from just one outstanding ward: the town of Lake Mills. 720 votes have not been counted in Lake Mills and it is being reported that totals will not be in until after 11:45 am cdt.
Through Friday, outside groups had spent a total of $2.4 million on television ads in the
Supreme Court race, according to data provided by the tracking service TNS Media Intelligence/
CMAG to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, which analyzes
judicial races. Representatives from the Kloppenburg campaign believe this number to be
low and estimate a statewide total of around $4 million. This is certainly the most expensive
supreme court race in Wisconsin’s history. Only three other times has an incumbent justice
been upset, two of which occurred before 1900. All across Wisconsin, and around the country,
people are anxiously awaiting an outcome that most likely won’t be decided for weeks as a
recount is inevitable.
While the margin may be razor thin, consider that just a few weeks ago, Prosser was the leader in this race by a huge margin. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!
OT but another example of “People Power”……Glenn Beck is pulling his show off the air and will now be in the background as a Fox producer!
http://www.businessinsider.com/glenn-beck-leaving-fox-news-at-end-of-the-year-2011-4
That is the best news I’ve heard today – other than Kloppenburg is leading prior to a recount.
Maybe the Beckheads will simmer down a bit. Gosh, that man was so destructive – not to mention crazy.
Wonder if this had anything to do with his sagging ratings and the refusal of most of the FOX sponsors to advertise on his show. Or maybe, with his recent descent into increasingly radical and hysterical rantings, they’re afraid that he’s going to have a meltdown on air. Of course, his loyal followers will claim that it was his decision and that this move will allow him to share more of his amazing revelations with less network control. This way, everyone saves face and they don’t have to deal with the angry hordes of Beck-bots breaking down the Faux doors.
Whatever the motives, the less we see of Beck on air, the better it is for our country.
Hmm. Ya think he is contemplatin a run for prez???
Finally, a victory for the people! America is watching, Mr. Walker, and we are not pleased.
Word from the mean streets of Lake Mills. Prosser leads by about 10 votes in last precinct. I’m calling it. Kloppenburg wins. Though the recount will start shortly. THIS is what democracy looks like.
Official word. Approx 700 votes split right down the middle in Lake Mills. Kloppenburg edges out incumbent. It should be noted that GOP Senator Eric Cartman…er…Scott Fitzgerald, represents the Town of Lake Mills. This is a damn good day.
Woot! Go Common People! Slink back to your holes, Walker et al!
I love that this broke on The Mudflats.
I seem to be having problems posting, so this is a TEST< TEST< TEST.
Here goes.
Do I have to say it again?
This is so incredible, and the importance of it (as rulings re: the standing of Walker’s bill, the upcoming recounts, etc.) cannot be overstated.
Have already seen some twitters from conservatives claiming voter fraud as they always do when they appear to lose. It isn’t voter fraud that has been the problem, it is election fraud and it is usually the right that is doing it.
I am so very proud that so many people turned out for the election! Also, too, that sanity seems to have a slight edge.
Exactly! When the PEOPLE vote, the People WIN.
Well, they always cheat, so they expect the other side to do the same. I’d call it guilty consciences, but first one has to have a conscience, and I’ve seen no evidence of one anywhere on what passes for the right wing these days. Their mantra is win no matter what; country be damned.
I personally saw Obama signing up illegals to vote in Madison. I could tell that’s where it was because of the Fox Palms (Palmus Fauxus) in the background and all the green oaks with acorns in the foreground. I mean that’s Madison in early April, right?
Kloppenburg win and Beck “retirement” on the same day. It just doesn’t get any better than this….so far!
Yes, it’s a good day.
I live in County Obrien. Irish enough for you girl? Slightly off topic.
Patrick’s going to be on Shannyn Moore’s show in 5 mins: (2:30pm Central/11:30am Alaska)
http://player.radioloyalty.com/Universal/stationPreview.php?stationID=1330
After Ms. Kloppenburg fell behind last night, I had steeled myself for the loss. I am thrilled for her, for the state of Wisconsin AND for what this potential victory means for the rollback of the radical right in Wisconsin and beyond.
Isn’t it amazing how a state Supreme Court election in Wisconsin can have people all over the US riveted? Just goes to show how a political race that would seem to be so locally limited can ultimately have a tremendous impact that ripples across the country.
Whatever the final outcome, congratulations to (Justice?) Kloppenburg for an impressive come from behind and to the citizens of Wisconsin for getting to the polls and performing their civic duty.
Leenie – can’t agree with you more how amazing it is that folks all over the nation were watching this one! I woke up last night about 2 am, and ran to the computer to see if the results were in. I, like you, steeled myself for a loss. This definitly calls for an adult beverage! Now, if Prosser will just accept the count, and we don’t have to go through all that that entails.
I stayed up late, hitting the refresh button. It wasn’t over, but somehow I managed to get to sleep (had to, a whole day of business and other meetings, and I had to be up for them). Now I’m so relieved.
I have chilled some lovely organic California Chardonnay I’m willing to share, tigerwine. Pass me your glass; I’ll fill it!
‘Isn’t it amazing how a state Supreme Court election in Wisconsin can have people all over the US riveted?’
Not to mention those further afield! It does feel good to see sanity prevailing in parts of America, even if, for now, it only has a slight edge.
Victory is sweet,yet we can’t rest on our laurels. This has to be kept up through all 57 states that have elections. We need to keep the pressure on rotten rethugs so we get our nation back. Again,thanks to all the PEOPLE that puleed this off.
OT – but very important to Alaskans —– the NRDC (National Resource Defense Council) has a new petition up trying to stop the Pebble Mine project.
Seems that Rio Tinto is the company behind the Pebble Mine project. It’s a British and Australian-based mining giant which has a shocking and well-documented record of toxic contamination that spans the globe: from Indonesia to Bolivia to Utah.
NRDC is trying to get 100,000 signatures in the next seven days (before Rio Tinto’s stockholder meeting in London).
Save Bristol Bay by stopping Pebble Mine – please sign the petition. You don’t have to live in Alaska for your signature to count!
http://www.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2205
Forgot to add a shocking statistic that the NRDC stated in reponse to the Chief Executive of Rio Tinto who claims that Pebble Mine will have a “net positive impact” on the Alaskan environment.
To that the NRDC says the following:
“The gargantuan gold and copper operation would generate some 10 billion tons of mining waste, laced with toxic chemicals, that must be held back forever by massive earthen dams up to 50 stories tall — all in an active earthquake zone!
“Does that sound like a ‘net positive impact’ on the environment?”
Robert Redford wouldn’t lie to you, would he? Please sign the petition to stop Pebble Mine. (end of soapbox).
All and good that petitions are I STILL believe the best way to address this and any other resource extraction in Alaska is to look at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and become VERY familiar with the permitting process.
Forcing the DNR to address issues such as where EXACTLY the fault line is (which they do not know) in the development region, how ANYTHING can be maintained forever, as they have talked about for the settling ponds, etc. will expose the weaknesses of this project. Then we are fighting with the same things they are trying to pass off.
This is the time to be looking at that department, who heads it, the process that ALL permits of this type go through, etc.
This overall could lead to a state that DEMANDS the best decisions based on science and likelihood of outcome versus who can gather more outside money to either gain or defeat a project.
It helps answer the issues of those who want to be ‘pro-development’ when you are not saying ‘no’ to every project but instead that they prove it can be done, based on science and methods, safely.
On top of that demand that monies be put in a fund, not just an insurance policy, to deal with violation issues, from the get-go. IF and when the project is done those REAL monies can be returned in 10-15 years if no further issues develop. They can’t then declare backrupt and walk away. It is harder to say you can develop it safely if you are not willing to put your $$ up front into a seperate fund.
We need to use our ‘business and technology’ brains and demand things on a platform they can relate to. Yes, this takes becoming much more involved and doing our best to understand things that might be difficult but in a long run probably a heck of a lot more successful. Without that too many people who need jobs in the area will continue to back the project, and yes there are a great number, as all they see is ‘tree-hugger/outsiders’ who are all emotional.
Realistically I think the $ would need to be held for much longer than 10-15 years in order to guarantee that it would be there WHEN problems develop (not if…).
Yes, agree and well put
done Sunflower.
One and done.
This election is another illustration of how evenly divided this country is on a number of issues. No entity winning an election or referendum should ever take it as a mandate for drastic change.
Look who’s in denial:
“Walker says Supreme Court race not a referendum on his agenda”
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_a0a93626-6085-11e0-83a9-001cc4c03286.html
The blinders will contribute to his demise.
I have Ten Bucks that says he is wrong! Any takers?
My blue cheese is with “referendum.” Emphasis on “dum.” Tweedle Dum. Or, in Dragnet terms, “Dum da DUM dum. Dum da DUM dum DUMMMMMMM!”
They’re not a referendum on his agenda beause ‘his side’ didn’t win.
Walker seems to have the same mentality as most of the republicans. If they keep repeating something over and over, they think it will come true or will be believed as fact. The unfortunate thing is that some of their followers fall for it.
Need to cover his ears and mouth(hold nose shut,too). Thank you sir Pat for your good works.
Once again, thank you, Patrick. This made my day.
If you think about it, Wisconsin was a major Koch brother test area. Paul Ryan, Scott Walker. The Koch spent big bucks defeating the country’s best progressive, Russ Feingold.
Repost: Koch’s worse than you thought:
http://tinyurl.com/3n3yeca
Yesterday as I drove 15 miles to a K-Mart so I would have to shop at the local Wal*Mart, I needed printer paper, I usually buy the cheapest stuff: $4.29 a ream. Then I noticed it was made by GP Georgia Pacific – a Koch company. In fact all the rows of paper were GP. Then I found one lonely pack of 500 sheets that was not GP. I looked at the price on the shelf, it was $4.99. I decided to suck it up and buy it.
When the cashier rang it up, it was $7.99. I bought it anyway.
London, I know how difficult it is to boycott the Koch spider’s web because they are everywhere.
I am ashamed to say that I sometimes am forced to buy a few things at Walmart because of the prices, but I sure try to avoid the place like a plague and only purchase exactly what I need – and then only if I cannot find it elsewhere for a comparable price. I boycotted Walmart and Sam’s Club for years, but the recession has forced us to try to save on some items when there is a significant price difference. Makes me feel dirty to buy things there now that I know how anti-union and anti-middle and lower economic class they really are. No wonder they can offer low prices; they shaft the very people who are forced to show there on every social program so they can get mega-tax cuts and refunds.
Interestingly, some of Wal*Mart’s low prices are a myth. Other stuff may actually be more, but once the loss leaders grab your attention, you buy what you need and sometimes pay the same, total as you would elsewhere. I’m sure the other big chains aren’t saints either.
Hey, I regularly visit McDonalds! (To use their bathrooms.) 8-0>
8-)>
more testing.
I wouldn’t know or care about Walmart prices. I don’t set foot in their stores.
THANK YOU PAUL…THANK YOU EVERYONE IN WISCONSIN….WE ARE CELEBRATING BIG TIME DOWN HERE!!!!
(posted Sly’s Thank You song…and Woody ‘All you Facists bound to lose’)
Yea!!! The People’s voice was heard…As Sen Chris Larson said…the governor and congress could not hear the people as they walked and sang and chanted around the capitol….they now hear them through their vote!
Wisconsin woke the sleeping giant up….
Congratulations Wisconsin!!….and special kudos to Patrick and all the other hard workers from WI who just wouldn’t quit!
Thanks Patrick and You Go Wisconsin!!
Definitely want to add my congratulations to the people of Wisconsin! Now if all the recalls follow along the same path of success, that’d be ‘sweet’!
There might be hope for the other states yet!
Let’s drag ALEC kicking and screaming out of the darkness and into the sunlight.
People need to know what’s happening behind the closed doors of corporations and the party
that supports them.
On Wisconsin!
I heard that New Yorkers are fighting to keep Wal Mart from setting up shop.
They have destroyed our small town. So many people have gone out of business, because of them.
Now we don’t have a choice when wanting some products. It’s either buy at Wal mart, or drive 50 miles.
Well, I simply have to gather my gumption and go back to boycotting them for everything. Luckily, I’ve only spent 20 dollars or so every month there, but I know that the profit from even that much goes to fund their despicable political agenda and the time to make an impact is now. Every dollar not spent there is takes something away from their war chest.
Daughter lives in Berkeley, CA, a place that has successfully kept out Walmart although the adjoining city of Oakland boasts a huge Walmart.
I agree with you, Lacy Lady, Walmarts do destroy small to medium towns.
Now, so long as amazon isn’t shown to be a GOP backer, I will rest easy, but if it goes, well, uh-oh for my book collections,
I have read that since Walmart intentionally works many employees less than 40 hours, or full time, the company avoids paying for typical full-time benefits like health insurance. It has been shown that there is a negative impact to communities with Walmart stores because so many of their employees work almost full time yet still depend on the social safety nets because they don’t have health insurance, sick time or other benefits.
Several years ago Tennessee was a prime example of this.
Very true My daughter and sister-in law both work there as right now not to many places hiring,though my daughter is going to school and still looking for something better.Their insurance for a family plan was so high she could not affords it and still pay rent ,food ect, had to go on badger care,She still pays but not as much as the insurance company Wal-Mart has does..They promised her 40 hours when they hired her than tried to shorten the hours till she went after the person who hired her and she got back her full time status..I will say they do have some kind of bonus if your store does well.
They are not welcome here; they’re trying to set up shop in Brooklyn. Brooklyn, one of two New York City boroughs that are geographically part of Long Island, is home to a huge variety of mom’n'pop operations. Yes, there are national chains, too, but small business owners (hey, Repubs, remember them?) know that Walmart, with its oppression of women, cheap crap from China, low prices, anti-unionism, etc. (did you know they teach employees, who cannot live on what they make, how to get government benefits to keep their families fed?), would put them out of business, as they have in many other locales. There are Walmarts in NY, but not in NYC. May it remain so forever.
I know they hire those who are on some kind of welfar program.They ask if you are in any kind of social program or getting help.If they hire anyone like that,no offense meant to anyone,they get credit from the government
When I was in that situation–only for me it was a three hour drive–I went to shopping on the internet. FedEx and UPS became my friends. I will not shop at WalMart. OK, maybe if I were starving and there was no place else to eat.
For The Win :~) Hurray Wisconsin !!!
This lovely song has been on my mind a lot today, so, I came here to share..
Hometown Glory~~Adele~~~~ (what a treasure she is !!)
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sznOlKDHNRM&feature=related
“..Shows that we ain’t gonna stand $hit
Shows that we are united
Shows that we ain’t gonna take it
Shows that we ain’t gonna stand $#it
Shows that we are united..”
My hometown is many miles away, I have not had the privilege to visit Wisconsin yet, but my heart is full of admiration and union pride for the badger state.
Now that we’ve all sampled the sweet taste of victory in Wisconsin, take a look at “If Fox News Had Been There Throughout History” and have a chuckle:
http://imgur.com/gallery/C2w9n
That was really funny for a Thursday. Much appreciated.
I AM SO PROUD OF WISCONSIN VOTERS. BOYCOTT
ANY PRODUCT MANUFACTURED BY THE KOCH BROTHERS
COMPANIES. READ, RESEARCH AND BECOME EDUCATED.
WALMART CORPORATION HAS RUINED AMERICA. BOYCOTT!
YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! SHUT DOWN CORPORATION GREED
AND BRING JOBS BACK TO AMERICA.
Power to the people.
Ruh-oh, here come the stories about vote-tampering and lost/found ballots in Wisconsin:
For some reason the spam filter is rejecting my copied URL, so on Google News search “favstocks 500 Votes Found in Waukesha County” to find the story.
The site is a far-right one, so this is no surprise. But this particular community went 70% for Prosser, so 350 more votes would put him ahead if the ballots are legit.
If it’s true, I hope they’re duplicates and can’t be counted!
Rethugs still have a very right-wing frienddddddddddl-er…………..cozy US Supreme Court whose palms have probably already been greased. Scalia is probably slaughtering ducks with Cheney as I try to type this. Fingers are crossed-which explains why I can’t type.
National coverage
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/2011/0406/In-Wisconsin-Supreme-Court-election-signs-of-a-pro-union-backlash
For all you teachers out there:
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0406/The-beatings-will-continue-until-teacher-morale-improves
OT: Thinking of Tokyo, Mike and our economy.
Can’t stand politics now….(Especially when Japan is literally under water) just knowing somehow I’m surviving and have people thanking me daily is enough to make me believe in humanity again.
(BUT– don’t count me out for votes or my voting vans!)
Our homegrown ‘Carpetbagger-Politicians’ are waiting and hoping for fatigue. I say ‘watch ‘em close’ then vote ‘em out!
I just wish Walker was smart enough to realize this vote was directed at him and his ilk. Who the heck did he think he was, anyway? From day one he thought he was better than the people in Wisconsin that put him in office. Well, the laugh is on him and I hope before it is over, we are hysterically laughing and rolling on the floor. This guy is a SAP!
Great News. I met a gentleman from Wisconsin in Coralville at a gas station. Coralville is hooked on to IC. I asked if he had heard any news about the Supreme Court race and he said he was in Colorado thwe night before on business and wouldn’t know anything until he got home. This is fantastic news to come home to. Thank yous to all that made it happen in Wisconsin. Power to the people-Right Arm.
Funny coincidence- Iowa’s braindead guv Terry Braindead is from ……wait for it……… Lake Mills……in Iowa. Whoopee!!!!!
I have just spoken by phone with my neighbor’s son who has devoted his life to teaching. Iowa rethuglican House of Representatives passed a bill stripping bargaining rights from teachers’ I believe Iowa’s senate is controlled by Dems and will stop this because Guv. Braindead will gladly sign it into law if he gets the chance. This gentle man I just talked with said Wisconsin was the birthplace of collective bargaining rights in 1959 or 57,something like that . I will haveto look it up.