READER COMMENTS ON

"Wisconsin GOP Recall Elections - Open Thread"

(88 Responses so far...)





COMMENT #1 [Permalink]

... Billy said on 8/9/2011 @ 7:45 pm PT...





Hi Kids. Here's another link for results:

http://www.jsonline.com/...epolitics/127331193.html

COMMENT #2 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 7:58 pm PT...





Live updates With 39% of the vote in in Milwaukee's 8th District, Democrat Pasch leads Republican Darling 56% to 44% Republican Sen. Luther Olsen has lead in 14th District, but precincts not yet in from Dem Clark's hometown of Baraboo As of 9:35 p.m., there were 88 of 119 precincts reporting in District 32. Jennifer Shilling (D) now has a 54-46 lead over incumbent Dan Kapanke (R-inc.). Still waiting on LaCrosse County, where Shilling had 55 percent of the vote with 4 of 21 precincts reporting, according to the LaCrosse Tribune. If those leads and the reported lead of Shilling over Kapanke hold, Dems capture the needed three, but keep in mind that two Dems still face additional recalls.

COMMENT #3 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:00 pm PT...





Brad! According to TPM, D2 and D10 races have been called...what's strange is, at this time, TPM is reporting BOTH districts have the R candidate winning by the same exact percentage: 52% (R) to 48% (D)... I realize it's still early (now only 10:00 WI time), and that these percentages are likely to shift before the "official results" are reported... but can you help me understand - what are the odds of that? (...waiting on Richard C to weigh in at the FB page. Your thoughts?)

COMMENT #4 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:01 pm PT...



COMMENT #5 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:07 pm PT...





Even if the Democrats recapture the Senate tonight, their "victory" may be short-lived. As reported By Channel3000: Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation on Monday that would redraw the boundaries of the congressional and legislative districts throughout Wisconsin. The governor signed into law two bills that redraw political boundaries for state legislative districts as well as Wisconsin's eight congressional districts in ways that benefit Republican lawmakers.

COMMENT #6 [Permalink]

... Billy said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:08 pm PT...





D32 Called for Jennifer Shilling. One for the good guys.

COMMENT #7 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:15 pm PT...





AP declares Democrat Jennifer Shilling winner over Republican Sen. Dan Kapanke. AP declares Jennifer Shilling declared winner. GOP leaders have all eyes on Hopper and Darling races. So here we are Brad, another Election Night, waiting for AP to call a race where we don't know if any ballots have been counted by any human being.

COMMENT #8 [Permalink]

... Billy said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:18 pm PT...





Sandra Pasch's lead has just collapsed in D2. Two points separate.

COMMENT #9 [Permalink]

... Billy said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:19 pm PT...





Correction: Sandra Pasch is in D8.

COMMENT #10 [Permalink]

... Billy said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:32 pm PT...





Via MSNBC, John Nichols' source in D18 says Jessica King will win. (For whatever that's worth.) Numbers say she's up by 137 votes w/ 87% reporting.

COMMENT #11 [Permalink]

... numerologist said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:34 pm PT...





numerology for Luther Olsen and Fred Clark (Tuesday August 9th, 2011 recall election): http://edpetersonnumerol.../08/08/numerology-for-5/

COMMENT #12 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:36 pm PT...





Thanks, Billy! Yes, gap suddenly narrowing between Darling / Pasch - watch those "official results" VERY carefully, peeps!

COMMENT #13 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:38 pm PT...





Looking like the Dems have their second. With 97 percent of the votes in in District 18, Jessica King (D) leads 51-49, according to JSOnline.com. So it looks like it comes down to another race that could be in the hands of Nickolaus

COMMENT #14 [Permalink]

... Billy said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:40 pm PT...





Jessica King has been declared the winner in D18. Sandy Pasch is picking up again, albeit slightly. Cross your fingers for a moment. (These are the Dems.)

COMMENT #15 [Permalink]

... skeptic94514 said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:46 pm PT...





Clearly, as of 10:44, Waukesha is waiting to see if they can throw the election. This is crap. State Senate - District 8 - General

County Precincts S. Pasch

(Dem) A. Darling (i)

(GOP)

Total 55/82 23,451

52% 21,713

48%

Milwaukee 39/51 18,579

65% 10,088

35%

Ozaukee 6/11 1,785

35% 3,273

65%

Washington 9/9 2,887

27% 7,955

73%

Waukesha 1/11 200

34% 397

66%

COMMENT #16 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:49 pm PT...





Some observations about District 8, in addition to those offered by Brad. Milwaukee is by far the most populous county in the district. In that county Pasch leads Darling 65% to 35%. The other three counties go heavily to Darling. Although, District-wide, 67% of the precincts (55/82) have reported, in Waukesha only 9% of the precincts (1/11) have reported at this late hour. Perhaps we should work on lyrics, modifying the old Glen Campbell tune about Galveston. I'll provide the first line. Waukesha, oh Waukesha. Where the votes are never counted.

COMMENT #17 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 8:59 pm PT...





Keep an eye not only on who is declared the "winner" in District 8 but the margin of victory. A candidate who loses by .5% or less can request a recount at the state's expense.

COMMENT #18 [Permalink]

... skeptic94514 said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:02 pm PT...





No, Kathy is counting the votes on her computer program, using software from Karl Rove. Don Siegelman knows this playbook all to well http://hotair.com/archiv...e-thing-is-darned-shady/ http://www.donsiegelman....ONS/fixed_elections.html http://en.wikipedia.org/...rnatorial_election,_2002 The result is a foregone conclusion

COMMENT #19 [Permalink]

... Orangutan. said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:10 pm PT...





Adults. Be the Media! Everyone on this thread can spread this great reporting elsewhere on the web. We are extremely lucky to have the best election integrity reporter in Brad Friedman doing this work. Let's help spread this throughout the progressive blogosphere where we also visit. http://crooksandliars.co...omment/permalink/1901973 Let's put ourselves to work. Thanks.

COMMENT #20 [Permalink]

... Billy said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:11 pm PT...





Darling has overtaken Pasch with 79% reporting. That's it. Good night.

COMMENT #21 [Permalink]

... FourScore said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:14 pm PT...





http://www.democraticund...address=439×1706458 Doesn't look good

COMMENT #22 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:14 pm PT...





Surprise, surprise! Waukesha suddenly went from 1/10 precincts reporting to 10/11 and Darling surged to a 4% lead! But there are still 13 Milwaukee precincts that have yet to report.

COMMENT #23 [Permalink]

... MikeDV said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:26 pm PT...





From Josh Marshall: State Dem chair Mike Tate claims "tampering" in Waukesha vote count reports that put Darling (R) over the top. This is the same county and clerk who generated such controversy in the recent Supreme Court election in Wisconsin. And she does seem to have some very archaic methods of reporting votes. But I have yet to see any evidence of irregularities tonight. The state party says in a press release that "in the next hours we will determine our next course of action." Jumping the gun a bit, Josh?

COMMENT #24 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:32 pm PT...





D14 called - Olsen 58% - Clark - 42%?....So 3 R victories in 3 differebt districts...all with the same vote split?! Yes, I realize that the Cowles / Nusbaum D2 race is now at 60 / 40, but it HELD at 58 - 42 for quite some time before this last flood of votes for Olsen...

COMMENT #25 [Permalink]

... Ishmael said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:41 pm PT...





Why do I get the impression that the last unreported Waukesha County precinct won't be reported until AFTER the last Milwaukee county precincts report. Current AP percentages show Darling leading by 6%. Just enoough to avoid an automatic recount.

COMMENT #26 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:42 pm PT...





This is by no means scientific, because I don't know the actual vote in each remaining precincts. But if you average the per precinct vote for the three counties in which precincts have yet to be counted and use the identical percentages, Darling ends up with 34,604 and Pasch with 34,474.

COMMENT #27 [Permalink]

... GWN said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:43 pm PT...





Between 12 and 12:20 am "the switch around". District 8 67% reporting (11:59:33 PM)

Alberta Darling R 21713/48%

Sandra Pasch D 23451/52%

District 8 79% reporting (12:20:44 AM)

Alberta Darling R 30394/52%

Sandra Pasch D 27766/48%

COMMENT #28 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:45 pm PT...





WEAU13News : BREAKING: Alleged election tampering in District 8's Waukesha County is being investigated. NBC News. http://twitter.com/#!/weau13news

COMMENT #29 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 8/9/2011 @ 9:58 pm PT...





I just spoke with Kathy Nickolaus re: the last unreported unit in her county. Her answer is in the 11:54p CT update above.

COMMENT #30 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/9/2011 @ 10:05 pm PT...





AWww.. Ernest, you ROCK! I was just coming here to post that exact link! Thanks, buddy! Can you believe the following quote from DPW Graeme Zielinski, DPW spokesperson?!?: "Our models, our returns, our results show us ahead in this important election...and we believe that Kathy Nicholaus...who has shown gross incompetence and maybe more, is at it again. We'll see what transpires...right now it is our belief that the election that will determine the control the of the WI senate is being tampered with." WOW!

COMMENT #31 [Permalink]

... Gus W said on 8/9/2011 @ 10:21 pm PT...





With such a nail biter why has MSNBC pulled live coverage? Especially with official allegations of tampering and the balance of power hanging in balance? Maddow sent home, Schultz absent, O'Donnell in rebroadcast. Crawl graphics saying 'Breaking News' are way behind live reports of Darling lead, controversy, in holding mode limbo on Pasch race in 8th district where reporting is late. Wait they just called it for Darling - timestamped vs. Realtime with major lag.

COMMENT #32 [Permalink]

... Shortbus said on 8/9/2011 @ 10:44 pm PT...





Shocked? Stunned? Amazed? Who could of seen this coming?

COMMENT #33 [Permalink]

... Lloyd Karch said on 8/9/2011 @ 10:54 pm PT...





Between the results at the 68% mark and the 80% mark, it appears that the Reps would have had to get over 75% of the vote to make the 4 point gain they made. Not one of the district 8 precincts, even the most conservative, reports that kind of margin. How is this possible? Supporting numbers: At 68% of the precincts:

51% is 34.68% of the total vote

49% is 33.32% of the total vote At 80% of the precincts:

47% is 37.6% of the total vote

53% is 42.4% of the total vote The Reps had to get 9.08% increase.

The Dems had to get 2.92% increase.

Thus the Reps had to get 76% and the Dems 24% of the added 12% reporting.

COMMENT #34 [Permalink]

... Gus W said on 8/9/2011 @ 11:02 pm PT...





Mysterious: as public waited for updates on 8th, Weekly Standard's John McCormack cited a 'GOP Source' reporting a significant Darling lead with 98%of results in. Then, 40 minutes later, McCormack reported a Darling lead with 96% in, suggesting his source had reporting data prior to the press and public. The networks took the night off - it was ThinkProgress who reported there would be a one hour delay in the reporting of the 8th. Brad is the only one reporting the outrageous "faxed absentee ballots" coming in so late. And all this in the exact same district that fouled up the Prosser results, finding ballots two days late to reverse the outcome. Remember WI Rep Tammy Baldwin asked the DOJ to look at that result and we are right back here? Stinky cheese...and poor marks for media coverage.

COMMENT #35 [Permalink]

... GWN said on 8/9/2011 @ 11:41 pm PT...





Mike Tate says he will not pursue questions of irregularities.

COMMENT #36 [Permalink]

... GWN said on 8/9/2011 @ 11:42 pm PT...





forgot the link...

http://tpmdc.talkingpoin...-three.php#disqus_thread

COMMENT #37 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/10/2011 @ 12:45 am PT...





Woah! Well this is sort of uncharted territory: Rachel Maddow and Schutlz discuss Kathy Nickolaus' poor track record and last night's late results, calling out ELECTION INTEGRITY / and discussing ELECTION FRAUD with 2 sitting WI senators! Hey!!! That's new! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#44084845

COMMENT #38 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 8/10/2011 @ 12:51 am PT...





Lloyd Karch @ 33: It's late, I'm exhausted, and not great with the numbers in the first place, but if I understand your explanation of those numbers, with Rs getting 76% and Dems 24% from Kathy Nickolaus' Waukesha results (when she finally reported most of the rest of her county totals), that's is just about equal to the R v. D ration in Waukesha in past elections. I haven't specifically compared tonight's numbers to the state Supreme Court numbers from April for those specific counting units yet, but the numbers in the case you point to may not be as remarkable as they seem. Of course, that presumes I remember correct and, more importantly, presumes one can trust the numbers from the Supreme Court race (which one shouldn't --- but there are past elections that can be compared to as well...for someone less tired than me tonight.)

COMMENT #39 [Permalink]

... Matt said on 8/10/2011 @ 1:21 am PT...





WI supreme court in Waukesha was 73/27. Would be interesting to see the precinct results from both races. Guess ya ever know in Waukesha. A multi-thousand vote swing could come out of anywhere. Literally.

COMMENT #40 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/10/2011 @ 2:58 am PT...





Brad: This is a very important election, but just keep being as honest as you are, and rest well. Personally, It's been hard for me to watch.

COMMENT #41 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/10/2011 @ 3:18 am PT...





I went to HULU and found a very interesting film about Harry Nilsson to take my mind off things but, of course, my expensive American internet broadband connection is VERY SLOW, so I've been able to comment on our blog and yours. John Lennon described Harry as his favorite band. Harry was very proud of that.

COMMENT #42 [Permalink]

... JimCT said on 8/10/2011 @ 5:37 am PT...





We don't know what happened in Waukesha or anywhere else. We can't in the current system. The trend of late votes ceretainly went against the previous numbers coming in from the same district and who knows about those "faxed" ballots. I've just come to assume about a 5% marging of theft possible in any of these Republican counted races, although Dems may not be immune.

COMMENT #43 [Permalink]

... Ishmael said on 8/10/2011 @ 6:47 am PT...





There's a reason exit polls are blocked. Until 2000 and the widespread use of electronic voting machines, Exit polls consistently tracked within 1% of actual vote totals. Beginning in 2000, exit polls showed a 4-8% variance from the election results, ALWAYS favoring Republican candidates. So, if you want to manipulate the vote total with no one the wiser, you MUST stop exit polling altogether for the election fraud to stand.

COMMENT #44 [Permalink]

... Dredd said on 8/10/2011 @ 7:09 am PT...





One has to wonder where this country going when union busting, unemployment denying, health care denying, attacking Social Security and the rest, are planks in a political platform. It is a reverse revolution, reverse progress, and it does not bode well. Gotta try harder I guess.

COMMENT #45 [Permalink]

... Robert Earle said on 8/10/2011 @ 8:33 am PT...





I spent the day as an observer at precinct 4, wards 5,6 and 13 in Menonomee Falls. Everything was done 'by the book'. No problems at all. (Although I have no explanation for why it took Nickalous so long to report them) the numbers reported in the media were exactly what was printed out from the ballot tabulator right there at the precinct. The chief inspector printed extra copies for observers, including one that I took home with me. (And Sandy Pasch did about 100 votes better in the precinct than Tom Barrett did against Walker in 2010. Walker won the precinct 849-474, Darling only beat Pasch yesterday 725-463.)

COMMENT #46 [Permalink]

... Randy D said on 8/10/2011 @ 10:39 am PT...





If we assume that Waukesha is the source of fraud, based on Repugs losing elsewhere, then a key stat would be turn out percentage (because it is already a Republican district, she would need to create phantom voters to have enough votes to swing the larger total). If poll books are kept, then manufacturing fake absentee ballots would be the way to go. Thus the "wait" for the count of the "faxed" absentee "ballots".

COMMENT #47 [Permalink]

... Robert Earle said on 8/10/2011 @ 11:01 am PT...





"If poll books are kept, then manufacturing fake absentee ballots would be the way to go. Thus the "wait" for the count of the "faxed" absentee "ballots"." Firstly, it isn't the ballots themselves that are 'faxed', it is only the tabulator result totals that are faxed. Poll books are kept. Absentees are processed at the individual polling places, by the poll workers, with the absentees being fed into the vote tabulating machines just like any other ballot, which means they are included in the tabulator tapes printed and signed at the polling place by the poll workers. The polling place I was observing, for example, processed 192 absentees (with one additional rejected for a missing signature). So to "manufacture" fake absentee ballots 'after the fact', in addition to creating the ballots, you'd have to create matching absentee envelopes, with fake post marks, and fake voter signatures, and somehow fake the tabulator tapes with new totals even though the original tape has to have signatures from the poll workers on the tape itself. Dozens of people would have to be "in on it". AND the whole thing would be blown if an observer (like me) shows up and asks for a copy of the tabulator tape to be printed right then and there. There's no way for Kathy Nickolaus to mess with the totals when I had a copy of the tabulator tape (hours, apparently) before she did.

COMMENT #48 [Permalink]

... GWN said on 8/10/2011 @ 11:25 am PT...





Well I see it's the same old, same old. Pasch conceded at 1:30 am. That's it, that's all folks. No investigation either. Let'um lose in 2010! Carry on doing what you like to do Brad. You have more than done your part. Nice to see you back here Dredd:)

COMMENT #49 [Permalink]

... GWN said on 8/10/2011 @ 11:26 am PT...





Let'um lose in 2012 I mean!

COMMENT #50 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/10/2011 @ 11:34 am PT...





Hi all ~ lots to post re: our citizen observation efforts of yesterday's recall elections. Nirtana Goodman got some INCREDIBLE video of Kevin Kennedy getting kicked off the sidewalk by a policeman as she was filming an interview with him in Butler Village, inquiring about the citizen exit pollsters being kicked off the sidewalk: http://youtu.be/9Fj3LIkgEeQ (Brad, I think you have a minor error at the 9:36 (CT) time-stamped update: "With that in mind, as of 9:30p CT, AP has "called" two races, in the 8th and 10th Districts, for the Republican candidates, state Senators Cowles and Harsdorf respectively...." I think you mean in the 2nd and 10th districts.)

COMMENT #51 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/10/2011 @ 11:55 am PT...





All our FB groups are now combing through their notes from yesterday, working through the reported math. We have lots of interesting posts flying around; nothing confirmed at this time. Since many of us here are doing the same number crunching, I'm posting our most relevant info below for discussion / Bradblogian analysis: One smart lady cites the same stats that our own GWN outlined above - with a bit more explanation: ...Between 11.59 p.m. and 12:20 a.m. an additional 12% of precincts were added. That brought the voters up to 58,160 total. YET, 12% of 58,160 should be 6,979.2 additional votes BUT it is twice that amount, 12, 996 voter increase. That is not logical!... District 8: 67% reporting at 11:59:33 p.m. Alberta Darling: 21,713/ 48%

Sandra Pasch: 23,4521/ 52%

District 8: 79% reporting at 12:20:44 a.m.

Alberta Darling: 30,394/ 52%

...Sandra Pasch: 27,766/ 48%

Darling had an increase of 8,681 and Pasch had an increase of 4,315 votes=12.996 votes (6,0168 more votes than what is possible with just a 12% addition of voters (editors note: this should read precincts)) 12% of the total 58,160 (at point in time) would have been only a possible 6,979.2 votes. Um, Dems better look into what is going on in district 8! MSNBC "With 62% of the vote in the dem had a 52/48 advantage, then, with 63% in the dem had a 51/49 advantage, THEN with a 64% of the votes in the republican had a 51/49 advantage. THAT CANNOT BE! A 1% swing cannot suddenly give the republican 3% points IF previously a 1% swing took away only ONE % point from the democratic challenger. THIS is the "smoking gun" Louise - that should be investigated by the Dems TODAY. It's PROOF Nicholas sat on democratic votes. Someone needs to get a copy of the MSNBC tape and look at what I was looking at. Again, if a 1% swing at 10pm means 1,000 votes, then, 1% swing at 11pm CANNOT mean 4,000 votes!!!" From one of our most active and reliable members, the lead Kloppenburg Volunteer in Waukesha Co recount: "KN, and Waukesha County, were not the problems in this election. Washington and Ozaukee counties were. Here's the proof: In Waukesha Cty, 69.4% of Wasserman's '08 voters turned out for Pasch, 78.4% of Darling's '08 voters returned (a 9 point difference).

In Washington Cty, 61% of Wasserman's '08 voters turned out for Pasch, 77.1% of Darling's '08 returned (a 16.1% difference)!

In Ozaukee Cty, 67.6% of Wasserman's '08 voters turned out for Pasch, 84.1% of Darling's voters '08 returned (a 16.5% difference)! What happened to the Dems in Washington County? In Ozaukee County? These questions MUST BE ANSWERED."

COMMENT #52 [Permalink]

... GWN said on 8/10/2011 @ 12:38 pm PT...





Narrowing it down even more; Pasch was still in the lead at 68% reporting according to this video:

Pasch(D)51%, Darling (R) 49%

http://videocafe.crooksa...-baldwin-was-right-ask-j Richard Charnin ,or as I remember him, TruthIsAll was spot on as usual. "Assuming the Wisconsin 2008 presidential election

1) Recorded vote shares and election fraud (expected) in the recall elections, the Democrats will win 1 or 2 GOP seats."

http://richardcharnin.wordpress.com/

COMMENT #53 [Permalink]

... GWN said on 8/10/2011 @ 12:59 pm PT...





Yes how can that be?

Jeannie Dean- "THEN with a 64% of the votes in the republican had a 51/49 advantage" 67% reporting at 11:59:33 p.m- Darling had 48%

(captured from wisconsinvote.org) Something is wonky.

COMMENT #54 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 8/10/2011 @ 1:59 pm PT...





Robert Earle @ 45 wrote: I spent the day as an observer at precinct 4, wards 5,6 and 13 in Menonomee Falls. Everything was done 'by the book'. No problems at all. (Although I have no explanation for why it took Nickalous so long to report them) the numbers reported in the media were exactly what was printed out from the ballot tabulator right there at the precinct. The chief inspector printed extra copies for observers, including one that I took home with me. Really appreciate that you were there on the ground and paying such close attention. Thanks for your report! That's good to hear, at least in regard to those wards you were able to be at, and at least as far as the chain of custody from precinct machine reported numbers to reported results on the web. Wish there was some way that we could know the machine reported numbers were actually accurate, however.

COMMENT #55 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 8/10/2011 @ 2:01 pm PT...





Jeannie Dean @ 50 Thanks for double-checking my work and catching that error! Have corrected.

COMMENT #56 [Permalink]

... Chris Hooten said on 8/10/2011 @ 2:15 pm PT...





Yeah Larry, I like the part where Harry Nillson is egging on John Lennon, feeding him brandy and milk, and they were both heckling the Smnother's Brothers, and eventually they both got physically thrown out of the place. Hey let's go do that to Jeannie Dean (just kidding). That was on Netflix a while back. "Who is Harry Nillson (and why is everyone talkin' about him)" or something like that. We all need some relief from this neverending election turd that keeps being dumped on us from WI.

COMMENT #57 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/10/2011 @ 3:34 pm PT...





Chris: I loved "Nilsson Schmilsson", but I think Harry was uncomfortable with being portrayed only in a good light and decided to play a sort of bad guy in "Son of Schmilsson", I have to say that I loved both albums and found the second one to be hilarious. It's no wonder that he got along so well with the Beatles. I think it's great that he got calls from both Paul and John praising him and then formed a long lasting relationship with Ringo too. What a great story!

COMMENT #58 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/10/2011 @ 3:37 pm PT...





There's no way Wisconsinites voted for Republicans with what they've been through. Just my opinion, but I'm right.

COMMENT #59 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/10/2011 @ 3:41 pm PT...





Chris: You've got to love how well the Smothers Brothers took the incident. There was no love lost there.

COMMENT #60 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/10/2011 @ 4:07 pm PT...





I am a HUGE Smother Bros' fan, even tho' Dicky became sort of a Dicky in recent years. Weird, Hooten, I DREAMED about them last night before I read your post here, today! Wow. We're synched! You guys can heckle me anytime! I doubt you could do any worse than the trolls we get here, heckling Brad... ...and having cut my teeth on 'em in Florida (a whole state of hecklers) I am more than up to the task. Plus I know how to do a good face-plant without breaking my nose. (Vaudeville trained in Texas...)

COMMENT #61 [Permalink]

... WingNutSteve said on 8/10/2011 @ 4:10 pm PT...





Larry Bergan @ 58: Actually you are 100% wrong on that. In November 2010 Democrats controlled both houses and the Governor in Wisconsin. Republicans took away a clean sweep based in part on the platform they enacted (reforming public employee unions power) which led to this mess. The results you saw yesterday confirms that the citizens were serious, despite the scores of thousands of bussed in union protesters.

COMMENT #62 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/10/2011 @ 4:24 pm PT...





Jeannie: Please! You have to tell me Dick Smothers didn't do a John Voight! I was very young, but smart enough to NEVER miss the show!

COMMENT #63 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/10/2011 @ 4:28 pm PT...





WingNutSteve: Sometimes I'm 99% wrong, but I've NEVER been !00% wrong in my entire life!

COMMENT #64 [Permalink]

... WingNutSteve said on 8/10/2011 @ 4:47 pm PT...





oops.. my bad!

COMMENT #65 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/10/2011 @ 6:59 pm PT...





No offense, but don't let it happen again.

COMMENT #66 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 8/10/2011 @ 7:19 pm PT...





WingnutSteve said @ 61: In November 2010 Democrats controlled both houses and the Governor in Wisconsin. Republicans took away a clean sweep based in part on the platform they enacted (reforming public employee unions power) Um, respectfully, URL containing evidence for that claim, please? Thanks!

COMMENT #67 [Permalink]

... WingNutSteve said on 8/10/2011 @ 7:53 pm PT...





Evidence for what claim? It's common knowledge that Wisconsin democrats controlled all of the state government.

COMMENT #68 [Permalink]

... ProgressiveMews said on 8/10/2011 @ 8:23 pm PT...





WingNutSteve @ 61: Republicans took away a clean sweep based in part on the platform they enacted (reforming public employee unions power) WingNutSteve @ 67: Evidence for what claim? OBVIOUSLY Brad's referring to the one I quoted and you made made in 61. HINT: There was NO SUCH PLATFORM declared in the run up to the elections.

COMMENT #69 [Permalink]

... WingNutSteve said on 8/10/2011 @ 8:42 pm PT...





You don't know what you're talking about: http://dailyreporter.com...gets-wages-and-benefits/

COMMENT #70 [Permalink]

... WingNutSteve said on 8/10/2011 @ 8:43 pm PT...





http://www.jsonline.com/...s/68643847.html#comments I'm sure you can find more if you look. I'm not wasting any more time.

COMMENT #71 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 8/10/2011 @ 9:51 pm PT...





WingNutSteve @ 70 conceded he was wrong with: I'm sure you can find more if you look. I'm not wasting any more time. I don't blame you. Because the two articles you pointed to refer to a comment Walker made before his election about cutting "benefits". As I'd like to think you know (though your party chair and folks on Fox lie to you about this all the time), the dispute in WI was not about "benefits". The unions had agreed, almost immediately, to meet Walker's demands for cuts to their pension and health benefits. The dispute was about big government stripping away the citizen's rights to collectively bargain. I'll repeat, in case you really are confused or unaware of this: The unions agreed to Walker's demands on benefits. They didn't agree to give up their right to collectively bargain as Walker's legislation requires and as Walker said absolutely nothing about during the campaign. Clear now? (BTW, those cuts in benefits and the stripping of collectively bargaining rights applied only to the non-firefighter and non-police unions, as those two unions endorsed Walker. So apparently their "benefits" didn't need to be cut to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations, as Walker also did despite the state's "budget emergency" that he declared.)

COMMENT #72 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/10/2011 @ 10:53 pm PT...





Just catching up on this thread, so forgive me if I'm double posting...but, anyone see this, yet?

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3hpzwnn "UPDATE: The Outagamie County clerks office confirmed that their spreadsheet was off and the results as fixed below are correct. Cowles won the county with 54 percent of the vote, not 69 percent. ---

There appears to be an inaccuracy in Outagamie County election results that makes the race between Republican Sen. Rob Cowles and Democratic challenger Nancy Nusbaum closer than first reported. According to the unofficial tally, Nusbaum received no votes in four Kaukauna precincts. That in itself is an anomaly. Add in that 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tom Barrett won all four of those precincts quite handily and it’s a sure head scratcher..."

COMMENT #73 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/10/2011 @ 10:59 pm PT...





Oh. How disappointing to see all the new posts were having to right the "right" and yet still so analogously "wrong" via Wing Nut. He's not wasting his time (with citation of his absurdities)...because he's too busy finding ways to waste OURS.

COMMENT #74 [Permalink]

... WingnutSteve said on 8/11/2011 @ 12:19 am PT...





Hush child, I'm trying to have a civil discussion with Brad.

COMMENT #75 [Permalink]

... Nunyabiz said on 8/11/2011 @ 8:35 am PT...





I think it is pretty clear to anyone sane that at least 2 of these races were blatantly stolen.

But as we all know a blatantly stolen race is just as good as a legal landslide win because democrats will never stand up and fight.

COMMENT #76 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 8/11/2011 @ 10:23 am PT...





WingnutSteve said @ 74: Hush child, I'm trying to have a civil discussion with Brad. So, instead of conceding that you were wrong (again) in this "civil discussion" you simply toss out condescending and dismissive snark at a different commenter? I suspect we'd all be more impressed if you simply said, "Thanks guys! Looks like I had my facts wrong, had been misinformed by the folks I had put my trust in, and now that you've helped educate me, I retract my inaccurate statement that Republicans had run on the plan they have since jammed down the throats of Wisconsinites."

COMMENT #77 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/11/2011 @ 11:40 am PT...





Ha! "Civil discussion with Brad?" Good luck with that WNut, as the civility tends to be one-sided and completely extended on Brad's part.

So...give it your best shot! You're WAY behind. It's okay, Brad. No offense taken. While typically self-serving and self-absorbed, that crack from Wing Nut was almost cute. Well, comparatively speaking, it's about as cute as he gets. Still, he doesn't get to hijack our open thread about far more important matters... (Hush, WN, this thread isn't about you.) Brad, listening for you now on local CA radio affiliate on the ED SHOW! YIPpPPPPEeeEEE! You're up on my link in about 20 minutes. Thrilled you're on air all day yesterday and today... Two, have you had a chance to review that article I posted above re: OUTGAMIE...seems there's another "missing column" issue. And if I understand this correctly, Nusbaum received only 4 votes in De Pere, considered a pro-Nusbaum district as she had been their former mayor. De Pere is also at the link I posted above on Tuesday re: long lines and 45 minute waits... Just wanted to highlight that as we learn more about what happened in District 2. Looks like Cowles did not win by the margin the official results would indicate. In fact, Cowles won by 15% less of a margin that originally reported on election night, according to Outgamie Co. Clerks. WTF?

COMMENT #78 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/11/2011 @ 11:42 am PT...





Richard Charnin's (Truth is All) WI TVM RECALL analysis would seem to line up with the info above: http://richardcharnin.wo...ns-a-true-vote-analysis/

COMMENT #79 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/11/2011 @ 11:53 am PT...





Noting: The D2 Cowles / Nusbaum race was the first one called, with the same 48% to 52% spread (Cowles) called in D10 simultaneously (Harsdorf). D2 held at 48%-52% until much later in the evening when it shifted dramatically to 60%-40% (Cowles). D10 stayed at 48% - 52% for as long as I was watching the numbers. (approx 3:00 am PT) Then, as reported above by GWN, around midnight the Darling / Pasch D8 vote spread comes in at the SAME PERCENTAGE: 48% / 52% (favoring Pasch) ...by 12:20 we see the same vote spread but now in favor of Darling. What do you make of that?...

COMMENT #80 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/11/2011 @ 12:14 pm PT...





Article from Portage Daily Register re: Tuesday's EDA citizen exit polling effort conducted by our volunteers in WI: http://www.wiscnews.com/...0-be40-001cc4c002e0.html Good report! Seems to have gone MUCH more smoothly in Pardeeville than Butler. Go figure.

COMMENT #81 [Permalink]

... WingnutSteve said on 8/11/2011 @ 12:40 pm PT...





Brad @ 76: my comment was meant to be a bit sarcastic and in a joking manner. Jeannie (sort of) got it (I think). At any rate it's a bit silly for you to use the words "condescending" and "dismissive snark" towards me, a faithful albeit non-goose stepping to your drumbeat, reader of this blog. I have never "snarked" and I take great pride in that fact. And your comments towards me typically ooze snarky condescension. No, Fox news did not tell me to say that. Having said that, I cannot find any link to an article which references Walkers desire (before the election) to take away collective bargaining from public employees so I'll give you a touche on that one. The folks I put my trust in did not tell me to say that. I do believe that the Wisconsin government got it correct with respect to collective bargaining for public employees. Sean Hannity told me to say that, old habits die hard.

COMMENT #82 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/11/2011 @ 1:00 pm PT...





GREAT interview with EDA's Jonathan Simon from Joan Brunwasser over at OPED NEWS: "Election Defense Alliance's Jonathan Simon with the Timely Lowdown on Our Elections" http://www.opednews.com/...unwasser-101027-150.html ...already picked up by an independent UofW blog,

"Sifting and Winnowing" here: http://siftingandwinnowi...nt-page-1/#comment-19879 "Many will be surprised and disappointed by last Tuesday’s results; many others will be encouraged by them. But too few will ask the question, “Can we even trust the reported outcomes?” “Sifting and winnowing” is partly about challenging comfortable assumptions in the search for truth and insight. With that goal in mind, I urge you to read this October 2010 interview with Jonathan Simon, a leading expert on election integrity."

COMMENT #83 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/11/2011 @ 1:03 pm PT...





Hey, fellow Bradblog-ians (save WNut) can you get over to the above link and leave a comment? Seems someone by the name of "Frank" has already come out swinging oo this astute young person's blog responding with (WNut-ian) bullshit... Barbara With and I have already posted to refute, could use some more comments to flash-mob "Frank's" mis (dis?) info. Thanks in advance!

COMMENT #84 [Permalink]

... Jeannie Dean said on 8/11/2011 @ 1:18 pm PT...





Okay! Sorry to "flame" the thread ala WN (tho' my info is REAL and far less self-serving) - we just received this post at the FB main page from E.I. veteran / publisher Diana Finch, thought it should be posted here for The Brad Blog record: "I get the RNC email newsletter to keep tabs on what they are saying, and here's what they are saying about Wisconsin in the email I just received.

I wonder in particular what they mean by 'funded a voter ID program' and 'funded the absentee ballot program.' From the email: . . . . . Because of your support of the RNC, Diana, we were able to help the Wisconsin Party's grassroots efforts and provide strategic resources to keep our majority in the state senate. We provided staff on the ground;

Funded a voter ID program;

Worked with the Wisconsin Party on contact lists and a Get-Out-The-Vote plan;

Provided Get-Out-The-Vote technology and equipment to the state party; and,

Funded the absentee ballot program. . . . . . . Sincerely, Reince Priebus

Chairman, Republican National Committee P.S. Diana, in 2008 Obama carried each of the six Wisconsin senate districts that they targeted for recall. After these districts went Republican last fall, the Obama Democrats went all in these races, outspent our side 2 to 1 and still failed. Wisconsin, once a solid blue state, is now red. . . . . ***** What the hell is their "absentee ballot program"? What, exactly, was "funded"? That GOTV effort seems like it could be the same technology Brad outlined in his expose. Could this link the RNC to the AfP? (Listening to you on THE ED SHOW right now via Seattle CBS radio affiliate, here: http://seattle.cbslocal.com/)

COMMENT #85 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 8/11/2011 @ 3:40 pm PT...





WingnutSteve - The problem was neither "snark" nor "condescension". It was evasion. Distracting from the original "civil discussion" in which you asserted false information, I told you as much, but then you failed to acknowledge, and instead, chose a distraction. Having said that, I cannot find any link to an article which references Walkers desire (before the election) to take away collective bargaining from public employees so I'll give you a touche on that one. And therein lies the entire battle in WI. Had Walker done what he'd said he would do, we wouldn't have this mess up there. But he didn't. He did something far beyond what he had campaigned on, then proceeded to lie about it by claiming he campaigned on it (for which he was called out by Politifact, btw.) So your original comment above which started this discussion, where you charged that another commenter was "100% wrong" (and which contains another dishonest GOP charge, concerning "thousands of bussed in union protesters"), and your subsequent support of that original claim was, in truth, 100% wrong. No "touches" needed. Not here for extra credit. I'm here to try and help inform a grotesquely (and purposely) misinformed nation. That you were misled on these FACTS by your party is no mistake. Your party is very purposely doing all that it can to deceive you. On the day of the election, GOP Chair (and former WISCONSIN party chair, so he certainly knows better), ended what started with a big lie, by issuing another big lie on air when he said: PRIEBUS: You have a leader in Scott Walker who asked state employees to pay just a little bit more in pension and healthcare benefits, which was about half of what the rest of the state pays in those benefits. And that’s all he did. Now, in reaction to that, the public employee unions took $25 million, they put together a petition drive, and now they’re dumping millions of dollars on television trying to recall the senators for trying to balance a state budget. Do you support that kind of shit? That's an absolutely blatant lie (a series of them, actually) from the head of your party! Doesn't the nation, and your party, deserve better than to be blatantly lied to that way? (No matter what you may feel about Walker and what he is doing in WI?) So shouldn't you be spending half as much time trying to correct your own party on their lies as you are spending here trying to incorrectly "correct" me when I tell the truth?!

COMMENT #86 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/11/2011 @ 4:56 pm PT...





This is an open thread, so I just had to share this for little comic relief.

COMMENT #87 [Permalink]

... Ernest A. Canning said on 8/11/2011 @ 5:35 pm PT...





Loved the line from JS On Line piece you so proudly link to, WingNutSteve. Walker said cutting taxes was one way to create jobs. How’s the new jobs created by the tax cuts for billionaires and assault on collective bargaining working out for you Wisconsin? Oh, wait. There’s this: Unemployment increased across Wisconsin's largest cities in June. New figures from the state Department of Workforce Development show unemployment increased in all 31 cities with a population of 25,000 or more. Beloit had the highest unemployment at 14.2 percent, up from 13.1 percent in May. Throughout the eight year disaster that was the Bush regime, the same claim was made. Cut taxes and you'll produce jobs. In fact, tax cuts have had the opposite effect. But corporate propaganda trumped reality. These early remarks were not an openly announced "platform." The 2010 'Tea Party' campaign was "jobs, jobs, jobs." The reality, another matter. Also, if you read these early Walker articles more carefully, WNS, you'll see that he does not mention going after the right to collectively bargaining.

COMMENT #88 [Permalink]

... Larry Bergan said on 8/11/2011 @ 6:58 pm PT...

