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hue
hue's Journal
hue's Journal
March 2, 2014
Well, that's interesting...
Yesterday, The Cook Political Report downgraded the race for Governor in Wisconsin from a "Likely R" to a "Lean R."
Unlike a few other such political rating systems - Cooks is the first to weigh in the impact of the 27,000 emails and Scott Walker's refusal to discuss them. Author, Charlie Cook was one who seemed to nail the anti-recall sentiment (as opposed to the pro-Walker sentiment) that carried the Governor to a win in June, 2012.
He correctly described Wisconsinites aversion to the recall process - an assessment that holds true almost two years later.
So, where Wisconsin has gone from a "Solid R" to a "Likely R" and now to a "Lean R" with 8 months left until election day - that isn't very good news for the GOP. Mary Burke is still largely unknown and a refreshing blank canvass vs. Walker's lagging jobs and corrupt staff problems.
Oy, and the emails - he just won't talk about them. Even his supporters (who desperately want to believe he has nothing to hide) are getting nervous about it.
The Cook Political Report Downgrades Walker's Reelection Chances (Root River Siren)
http://rootriversiren.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-cook-political-report-downgrades.htmlWell, that's interesting...
Yesterday, The Cook Political Report downgraded the race for Governor in Wisconsin from a "Likely R" to a "Lean R."
Unlike a few other such political rating systems - Cooks is the first to weigh in the impact of the 27,000 emails and Scott Walker's refusal to discuss them. Author, Charlie Cook was one who seemed to nail the anti-recall sentiment (as opposed to the pro-Walker sentiment) that carried the Governor to a win in June, 2012.
He correctly described Wisconsinites aversion to the recall process - an assessment that holds true almost two years later.
So, where Wisconsin has gone from a "Solid R" to a "Likely R" and now to a "Lean R" with 8 months left until election day - that isn't very good news for the GOP. Mary Burke is still largely unknown and a refreshing blank canvass vs. Walker's lagging jobs and corrupt staff problems.
Oy, and the emails - he just won't talk about them. Even his supporters (who desperately want to believe he has nothing to hide) are getting nervous about it.
March 1, 2014
More Repuke same 'ol same 'ol...
Assembly leader may resign due to sexual harassment accusations (WI)
Source: 58 NEWS
Republican Majority Leader Bill Kramer has reportedly been accused of sexual harassment.
Sources confirm to the Associated Press that Kramer is now being asked to resign.
We went to Kramer's home in Waukesha to try and get his side of the story and we were told he has no comment at this time.
The AP reports Kramer is being accused of sexual harassment that took place after a GOP fundraiser earlier this week in Washington, D.C. The AP reports he sexually harassed more than one woman after the fundraiser.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos released the following statement to CBS 58 News.
"Recently I was made aware of serious allegations regarding inappropriate behavior by Rep. Kramer. Since I learned of those allegations I have been consulting with legal counsel and other legislators to understand what options are available.
“The alleged behavior is reprehensible and won’t be tolerated.
Read more: http://www.cbs58.com/news/local-news/Assembly-leader-may-resign-due-to-sexual-harassment-accusations--248035501.html
More Repuke same 'ol same 'ol...
March 1, 2014
Old white people are drowning in despair and rage. Here's how my father lost his mind -- thanks to his cable diet
Old, white, wrinkled and angry, they are slipping from polite society in alarming numbers. We’re losing much of a generation. They often sport hats or other clothing, some marking their status as veterans, Tea Partyers or “patriots” of some kind or another. They have yellow flags, bumper stickers and an unquenchable rage. They used to be the brave men and women who took on America’s challenges, tackling the ’60s, the Cold War and the Reagan years — but now many are terrified by the idea of slightly more affordable healthcare and a very moderate Democrat in the White House.
We’re losing people like my father to the despair of Fox News, and it’s all by design.
My dad is 67 years old, a full year younger than the average Fox viewer, who is 68, according to an analysis in New York magazine by columnist Frank Rich. I’ve read accounts of people my age — 40 or so — losing parents to cancer or Alzheimer’s, but just as big a tragedy are the crops of grandmothers and grandfathers debilitated by Fox News-induced hysteria.
I enjoyed Fox News for many years, as a libertarian and frequent Republican voter. I used to share many, though not all, of my father’s values, but something happened over the past few years. As I drifted left, the white, Republican right veered into incalculable levels of conservative rage, arriving at their inevitable destination with the creation of the Tea Party movement.
When I finally pulled the handle for Obama in 2012, my father could not believe how far I’d fallen. I have avoided talking politics with him as much as possible ever since. Last week, I invited him to my house for dinner with the express purpose of talking about politics and most especially his Fox News addiction. Since he retired, he only watches Fox. As we started chatting up politics, I repeated one mantra over and over: “Please, please, consume another source of information.” I repeated my plea a dozen times. He defended with stridency his choices, citing his favorites, like Stuart Varney, “The Five” and the great Charles Krauthammer. When it came to any other source of information he was emphatic.
I lost my dad to Fox News: How a generation was captured by thrashing hysteria
http://www.salon.com/2014/02/27/i_lost_my_dad_to_fox_news_how_a_generation_was_captured_by_thrashing_hysteria/Old white people are drowning in despair and rage. Here's how my father lost his mind -- thanks to his cable diet
Old, white, wrinkled and angry, they are slipping from polite society in alarming numbers. We’re losing much of a generation. They often sport hats or other clothing, some marking their status as veterans, Tea Partyers or “patriots” of some kind or another. They have yellow flags, bumper stickers and an unquenchable rage. They used to be the brave men and women who took on America’s challenges, tackling the ’60s, the Cold War and the Reagan years — but now many are terrified by the idea of slightly more affordable healthcare and a very moderate Democrat in the White House.
We’re losing people like my father to the despair of Fox News, and it’s all by design.
My dad is 67 years old, a full year younger than the average Fox viewer, who is 68, according to an analysis in New York magazine by columnist Frank Rich. I’ve read accounts of people my age — 40 or so — losing parents to cancer or Alzheimer’s, but just as big a tragedy are the crops of grandmothers and grandfathers debilitated by Fox News-induced hysteria.
I enjoyed Fox News for many years, as a libertarian and frequent Republican voter. I used to share many, though not all, of my father’s values, but something happened over the past few years. As I drifted left, the white, Republican right veered into incalculable levels of conservative rage, arriving at their inevitable destination with the creation of the Tea Party movement.
When I finally pulled the handle for Obama in 2012, my father could not believe how far I’d fallen. I have avoided talking politics with him as much as possible ever since. Last week, I invited him to my house for dinner with the express purpose of talking about politics and most especially his Fox News addiction. Since he retired, he only watches Fox. As we started chatting up politics, I repeated one mantra over and over: “Please, please, consume another source of information.” I repeated my plea a dozen times. He defended with stridency his choices, citing his favorites, like Stuart Varney, “The Five” and the great Charles Krauthammer. When it came to any other source of information he was emphatic.
February 27, 2014
Hawk Vs. Squirrel
"A closeup look at nature and survival of the fittest in Hawk Vs. Squirrel. The photography of this epic chase between the hawk and squirrel is simply amazing and must have required careful planning to position the cameras exactly where they needed to be. I couldn’t help but cheer for the squirrel as he does he best to evade and escape from the hawk that is trying to catch him."
http://biggeekdad.com/2014/02/hawk-vs-squirrel/
February 24, 2014
Tuesday, October 5, 2010. The planned GTAC mine is still just a twinkle in the eye of a few insiders. The Iron County Board Chair, a few board members perhaps, and some local development folks are talking about it. Chris Cline has already flattered a few locals with his presence. Lawyers are drafting a lease agreement, which is by now certainly already a handshake agreement, that will basically give GTAC 3000+ acres of county forest lands so that they have a place to pile their tailings. GTAC's lawyers are also already drafting the mining bill to be introduced in a few months, despite the fact they would later promise the Chippewa that they were intending to work under the existing laws.
A motion described as a "Motion in Support of Mining in Iron County" is being contemplated -- a motion which is actually a motion to remove the said 3000 acres from the county forest, and which will be passed the following month, with no publicity or fanfare, and done so discreetly and quietly that a year or two later none of the county board members even realizes it was passed. The result was a resolution authorizing withdrawal of the county land from the county forest, even though there has been no public release of, discussion of, or even general knowledge of the soon-to-be-signed lease between Iron County and GTAC. In other words, the resolution is in furtherance of the terms of a lease which is not even known about yet. It certainly is not known about by most of the people voting for the resolution. They think they are passing a generic motion in support of mining. That's what the meeting's agenda says. The lease does not come up until the following January, after the elections and swearing in ceremonies.
The only people, apparently, who really know what's going on at this point are a few insiders in Iron County, a few republican legislators, GTAC's billionaire owner Chris Cline, Cline Resources President John Dickinson, and SCOTT WALKER.
The above snapshot of email records provided last week show that Scott Walker had a scheduled phone call to Chris Cline and Cline Resources President John Dickinson during the lunch hour that day in October. What could Scott Walker and the folks at Cline Resources possibly have to discuss?
***************************************
@&*%$^#@**!!!
WALKER EMAIL DATES TO GTAC'S BEGINNINGS IN IRON COUNTY:
http://stellareport.blogspot.com/Tuesday, October 5, 2010. The planned GTAC mine is still just a twinkle in the eye of a few insiders. The Iron County Board Chair, a few board members perhaps, and some local development folks are talking about it. Chris Cline has already flattered a few locals with his presence. Lawyers are drafting a lease agreement, which is by now certainly already a handshake agreement, that will basically give GTAC 3000+ acres of county forest lands so that they have a place to pile their tailings. GTAC's lawyers are also already drafting the mining bill to be introduced in a few months, despite the fact they would later promise the Chippewa that they were intending to work under the existing laws.
A motion described as a "Motion in Support of Mining in Iron County" is being contemplated -- a motion which is actually a motion to remove the said 3000 acres from the county forest, and which will be passed the following month, with no publicity or fanfare, and done so discreetly and quietly that a year or two later none of the county board members even realizes it was passed. The result was a resolution authorizing withdrawal of the county land from the county forest, even though there has been no public release of, discussion of, or even general knowledge of the soon-to-be-signed lease between Iron County and GTAC. In other words, the resolution is in furtherance of the terms of a lease which is not even known about yet. It certainly is not known about by most of the people voting for the resolution. They think they are passing a generic motion in support of mining. That's what the meeting's agenda says. The lease does not come up until the following January, after the elections and swearing in ceremonies.
The only people, apparently, who really know what's going on at this point are a few insiders in Iron County, a few republican legislators, GTAC's billionaire owner Chris Cline, Cline Resources President John Dickinson, and SCOTT WALKER.
The above snapshot of email records provided last week show that Scott Walker had a scheduled phone call to Chris Cline and Cline Resources President John Dickinson during the lunch hour that day in October. What could Scott Walker and the folks at Cline Resources possibly have to discuss?
***************************************
@&*%$^#@**!!!
February 21, 2014
CHARGED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES RELATED TO POLLUTION OF AN AQUIFER
According to Spanish sources, Prosecutor Yolanda Ortiz has filed an "escrito de calificacion," against GTAC President Bill Williams in a court in Seville, Spain. A Spanish synonym for the filed document is "acusacion formal," --or "formal accusation" in English. It is a close approximation to an indictment or information in the U.S. criminal justice system. The charging documents were filed in January.
In an order dated November 8, 2013 a panel of three judges upheld a lower court finding that Williams should stand trial on criminal charges related to his activities as Director of Mining at the Cobre las Cruces Copper Mine near Seville. The lower court magistrate found sufficient evidence to try Williams and two other officials involved with the mine, and dismissed charges against a fourth person. Williams had appealed the finding by the lower court concluding that there was sufficient evidence to try him and the two others for crimes against the environment.
The appellate court highlighted that research showed arsenic concentrations in the aquifer beneath the mine were very high, and that evidence introduced showed that the relationship between field activity at the mine and the concentration of arsenic in the aquifer was "bastante claro" (quite clear). Three separate Spanish agencies certified irregularities during their investigation of the Cobre las Cruces Mine, and the Andalusian Water Authority concluded that there existed an enormous risk to the public water supply, and said the intended operating system at the mine was "an outrage" ("una barbaridad."
According to Prosecutor Yolanda Ortiz, as Director of the Cobres las Cruces mine, Bill Williams was responsible for launching a system of drainage and injection into the Niebla-Posada aquifer which was not authorized, and which resulted in concentrations of arsenic in the aquifer well above the maximum permitted for human consumption. He said they were taking water from the bottom of the "cut" (open pit) and injecting it into the aquifer. Ortiz, the Public Prosecutor, said this was "totalmente prohibido" (totally prohibited). According to the charges the company also withdrew water from the aquifer, used it, treated it, and re-injected it without authority.
The prosecutor's charges highlighted the withdrawals and injections of water that were not permitted, the illegal construction of nine rafts, and the high levels of arsenic in the aquifer.
For his role Bill Williams is charged under Articles 325 and 326b of the Penal Code with a crime against the environment, and is further charged with "other damage to the public domain" under Articles 263 and 264.4. For the first charge the prosecution is asking for 4 years in prison and a 9,000 euro fine, and for the second charge he seeks a year and a half in prison and a 2,700 euro fine.
GTAC PRESIDENT WILL BE TRIED IN SPAIN (YIPEEE!)
http://www.stellareport.com/CHARGED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES RELATED TO POLLUTION OF AN AQUIFER
According to Spanish sources, Prosecutor Yolanda Ortiz has filed an "escrito de calificacion," against GTAC President Bill Williams in a court in Seville, Spain. A Spanish synonym for the filed document is "acusacion formal," --or "formal accusation" in English. It is a close approximation to an indictment or information in the U.S. criminal justice system. The charging documents were filed in January.
In an order dated November 8, 2013 a panel of three judges upheld a lower court finding that Williams should stand trial on criminal charges related to his activities as Director of Mining at the Cobre las Cruces Copper Mine near Seville. The lower court magistrate found sufficient evidence to try Williams and two other officials involved with the mine, and dismissed charges against a fourth person. Williams had appealed the finding by the lower court concluding that there was sufficient evidence to try him and the two others for crimes against the environment.
The appellate court highlighted that research showed arsenic concentrations in the aquifer beneath the mine were very high, and that evidence introduced showed that the relationship between field activity at the mine and the concentration of arsenic in the aquifer was "bastante claro" (quite clear). Three separate Spanish agencies certified irregularities during their investigation of the Cobre las Cruces Mine, and the Andalusian Water Authority concluded that there existed an enormous risk to the public water supply, and said the intended operating system at the mine was "an outrage" ("una barbaridad."
According to Prosecutor Yolanda Ortiz, as Director of the Cobres las Cruces mine, Bill Williams was responsible for launching a system of drainage and injection into the Niebla-Posada aquifer which was not authorized, and which resulted in concentrations of arsenic in the aquifer well above the maximum permitted for human consumption. He said they were taking water from the bottom of the "cut" (open pit) and injecting it into the aquifer. Ortiz, the Public Prosecutor, said this was "totalmente prohibido" (totally prohibited). According to the charges the company also withdrew water from the aquifer, used it, treated it, and re-injected it without authority.
The prosecutor's charges highlighted the withdrawals and injections of water that were not permitted, the illegal construction of nine rafts, and the high levels of arsenic in the aquifer.
For his role Bill Williams is charged under Articles 325 and 326b of the Penal Code with a crime against the environment, and is further charged with "other damage to the public domain" under Articles 263 and 264.4. For the first charge the prosecution is asking for 4 years in prison and a 9,000 euro fine, and for the second charge he seeks a year and a half in prison and a 2,700 euro fine.
February 19, 2014
An email trove built by now-convicted felon Kelly Rindfleisch while working for then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will be released to the media Wednesday following her unsuccessful effort to keep it secret.
This will give Wisconsin reporters - - and perhaps some national political reporters - - a chance to be as enterprising as New York and New Jersey journalists who chased the Christie Bridgegate story energetically and used emails to fuel a dozen still-unfolding spinoffs.
************************
watch for news of this release!
Email Dump Wednesday Could Push Media To Confront Walker
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2014/02/email-dump-wednesday-could-push-media.htmlAn email trove built by now-convicted felon Kelly Rindfleisch while working for then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker will be released to the media Wednesday following her unsuccessful effort to keep it secret.
This will give Wisconsin reporters - - and perhaps some national political reporters - - a chance to be as enterprising as New York and New Jersey journalists who chased the Christie Bridgegate story energetically and used emails to fuel a dozen still-unfolding spinoffs.
************************
watch for news of this release!
February 18, 2014
Paul DeMain Explains the Hunt for the Golden Goose (Penokee Mine vid)
Published on Feb 17, 2014
February 16, 2014 - At the Hurley Chamber of Commerce awards banquet last month, GTac President Bill Williams was given an award for best area business. In his acceptance speech he said that people opposing the proposed open pit iron mine that would be the largest in the world and would threaten to destroy the Bad River watershed and miles of air and water around it were aiming to kill the "golden goose" of a mine that might create a few hundred jobs for a couple decades. Defenders of the water know that the real golden goose in Iron and Ashland counties is the wilderness, the clean air and water in the region.
Today two groups set out from opposite directions on highway 77 to make that point, and to challenge a law written by and passed for GTac that prohibits public access to managed forest land around mining activity sites. Nearly 100 people marched to the Moore Park siding for a press conference, and several dozen breached the forbidden zone to enjoy the gorgeous, sparkling winter day in the Penokee Hills.
In this video Paul DeMain explains.
February 18, 2014
Published on Feb 17, 2014
February 16, 2014 - At the Hurley Chamber of Commerce awards banquet last month, GTac President Bill Williams was given an award for best area business. In his acceptance speech he said that people opposing the proposed open pit iron mine that would be the largest in the world and would threaten to destroy the Bad River watershed and miles of air and water around it were aiming to kill the "golden goose" of a mine that might create a few hundred jobs for a couple decades. Defenders of the water know that the real golden goose in Iron and Ashland counties is the wilderness, the clean air and water in the region.
Today two groups set out from opposite directions on highway 77 to make that point, and to challenge a law written by and passed for GTac that prohibits public access to managed forest land around mining activity sites. Nearly 100 people marched to the Moore Park siding for a press conference, and several dozen breached the forbidden zone to enjoy the gorgeous, sparkling winter day in the Penokee Hills.
In this video Paul DeMain explains.
Paul DeMain Explains the Hunt for the Golden Goose (WI Penokee Mine info)
&feature=youtu.bePublished on Feb 17, 2014
February 16, 2014 - At the Hurley Chamber of Commerce awards banquet last month, GTac President Bill Williams was given an award for best area business. In his acceptance speech he said that people opposing the proposed open pit iron mine that would be the largest in the world and would threaten to destroy the Bad River watershed and miles of air and water around it were aiming to kill the "golden goose" of a mine that might create a few hundred jobs for a couple decades. Defenders of the water know that the real golden goose in Iron and Ashland counties is the wilderness, the clean air and water in the region.
Today two groups set out from opposite directions on highway 77 to make that point, and to challenge a law written by and passed for GTac that prohibits public access to managed forest land around mining activity sites. Nearly 100 people marched to the Moore Park siding for a press conference, and several dozen breached the forbidden zone to enjoy the gorgeous, sparkling winter day in the Penokee Hills.
In this video Paul DeMain explains.
February 18, 2014
Just remember folks….according to Republican Gov. Scott Walker Wisconsin is open for business!
But I thought Wisconsin was “Open for Business” (Blogging Blue's take)
http://bloggingblue.com/2014/02/but-i-thought-wisconsin-was-open-for-business/Just remember folks….according to Republican Gov. Scott Walker Wisconsin is open for business!
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