Wisconsin is home to the drunkest people in America, and many of them love to drive. Dane County is experimenting with a novel idea: A court designed specially to deal with the drunkest drivers. These are the people who've been caught three or four times, or who get pulled over and puke on the breathalyzer.
Today the campaign finance reports are due for recall candidates and we've got Phil Walzak, of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, on the live-line talking about radicalization of the Republican Party. Once upon a time, she was a moderate. She sat on the board of Planned Parenthood and she wasn't completely dedicated to serving the whims of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. Things have changed. That's why we need to recall her and all of her GOP accomplices.
40% of Americans think our country is in a state of permanent decline. Can we blame them? For decades our politicians have destroyed the economic base of this country in giveaways to their corporate overlords. No, the recession is not Obama's fault, but he isn't exactly helping us out either. More trade deals is not the answer!
John Nichols talks about the slow death of Madison media, which now substitutes political spin for real reporting. No case better shows this than the investigation of David Prosser. Instead of reporting on the investigation, the media has gobbled down the talking points the right wing echo chamber has put out about "disorder" on the court.
Also, some polls just came out that shows two incumbent Republicans losing their recall elections and one incumbent Republican who is in great danger of losing.
Madison Teachers Inc. President John Matthews explains why his union recently endorsed Vicky Selkowe in the Democratic primary for the 48th Assembly district. Vicky is a strong progressive who has experience working on labor issues, including through her work as chief-of-staff to Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), labor's best friend in the legislature. It's time we elect Democrats who will not only vote the right way, but who will fight for the issues important to workers.
John Nichols of the Cap Times joins me on the live-line to talk about the right-wing's newest theory about violence on the Supreme Court: Dave Prosser grabbed Ann Walsh Bradley by the neck because he didn't want to touch her breasts! When will the madness stop?
Rich Michalski, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, is on the live-line to talk to us about the shameful anti-worker thuggery that Delta is engaging in, with the eager help of a number of Republican presidential candidates. The National Labor Relations Board needs to stand up for workers and stop companies from extorting bribes from states by threatening to crush worker's rights.
The already-devastating pay cuts low-wage public workers are being forced to take is juts the beginning of Scott Walker's sadistic class war. As Marty Beil, head of AFSCME Council 24, explains, the Walker administration is now unilaterally moving to decrease other state worker benefits, which are no longer subject to bargaining. And just to stick it to unions, Walker is preventing workers from having part of their pay deducted into the union dental plan, which exists because the state doesn't provide workers with basic dental care!
Again and again, the neanderthals at the Wisconsin State Journal think everything that goes wrong in government is the fault of the people. The fact that the last few justices we've elected are raving lunatics should not serve to take our rights away as voters. And you've got to be kidding me if you think Scott Walker would do a better job than we would.
County Supervisors Dianne Hesselbein and Melissa Sargent talk about how law enforcement should proceed in the matter of Justice David Prosser's alleged assault of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.
John Nichols of the Capital Times is on the live-line talking about David Prosser's clear inability to serve on the state's high court. Unfortunately, as Nichols explains, some people, including the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board, are turning the actions of one deranged judge into an excuse to eliminate democracy in Wisconsin by taking away the right of the people to elect their justices.
The same tribe that excused Justice Prosser's "total bitch" comment about Chief Justice Abrahamson are saying that reports of Prosser putting his hands around Justice Bradley's neck are a hit job by a Madison liberal. Our lazy, corporate media is buying into the right-wing's attempt to muddy the waters.
I'm sick and tired of people saying our Supreme Court is out of control. Prosser is the only one out of control just like he's the only one involved in a criminal investigation. This concocted defense of Prosser is a joke.
Bill Lueders, at his post at the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, helped break the story of Justice David Prosser alleged violence against Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. Lueders describes the thorough and detailed investigation that lead to this story and responds to some of the criticism leveled at him from the right.
Justice David Prosser is in a lot of trouble. It broke this weekend that Justice Prosser allegedly put Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in a "choke hold" during a heated exchange in Bradley's office. Right-wingers are already putting forth an unsubstantiated theory that Bradley charged Prosser and he put his hands up to her neck in defense. I get your reaction to this game-changing story and then John Nichols gives his analysis on the troubling behavior Prosser has shown of late.
One Wisconsin Now's Scot Ross is on to talk about Justice Prosser's long history of temper tantrums. One Wisconsin Now is calling for Prosser to resign immediately.
Ross and I also talk about Ron Johnson's tricky finances. It appears that his company Pacur, repaid him 1o million in "deferred compensation" immediately following the election. Johnson ran on his ability to stay independent because he married into money and could finance his own campaign. Now it seems like he actually MADE money while running for senate. Johnson is damn lucky that his Republican colleague in the State Supreme Court decided to violently lash out at another Justice.
Believe it or not, our country is in such a mess that right-wing dingbat Michele Bachmann may actually be our next President. New York just legalized gay marriage despite a Republican majority in the State Senate and Bachmann responded by saying that we need a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Has it really come to this?
Walker was greeted by throngs of protesters in both Green Bay for his budget signing and at Devil's Lake for their 100th anniversary celebration. Walker wants to "turn a page" and start moving "forward together". Should we listen to Walker and just move on?
We know from the Zombie/Special Olympics incident that Vicki McKenna would like to see bodily harm done to union supporters. After four months of protests with ZERO violence, two teabaggers lashed out violently at the solidarity singers in the Capitol. One of them punched a union supporter in the face, breaking one of his teeth.
Turns out, Vicki McKenna is well acquainted with these two violent tea party members. Well at least she got the violence she was after.
Through a confidential source, I have learned of some major changes happening inside the governor's mansion. Walker's wife Marie AnTONETTE Walker has been busy. The first lady has ordered expensive new coolers, re-painted rooms, wants the kitchen remodeled, hired new security, and even removed a painting of little minority children. The Walkers are treating our governor's mansion as their own private palace but the taxpayers are picking up the tab. No word on whether Walker still thinks the state is broke.
Since AnTONETTE has big plans for the governor's mansion in her own image, let's help her out. What are your remodeling ideas for the Walker mansion?
Dan Bice wrote an amazing piece in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that reveals the unprecedented financial shenanigans going on with the Ron Johnson senate campaign. According to Bice, after the election Johnson's Pacur Company gave him 10 million dollars in "deferred compensation". That is almost exactly what he personally put up for his senate run. Johnson has also had fundraisers with Washington lobbyists to supposedly pay off some campaign debt. I'm not an accountant but it seems to me that Johnson actually profited when running for senate.
John Nichols joins me to wade through this breaking news and to discuss how advertising has replaced journalism in the election process.
Not all labor unions are created equal and members must hold their leaders accountable. Someone that knows that all too well, President of the National Union of Health Care Workers Sal Rosselli joins me from California. We hear the storied history of Mr. Rosselli and what you can do to strengthen your union.
Tenant rights advocate Brenda Konkel joins me to talk about new legislation that would give landlords unprecedented power over their tenants. Republicans love to say they want to give control to local communities but this bill basically wipes clean protection for renters put in place by local governments. There is still time to stop this legislation, call your local representative and tell them renters are not second class citizens.
Walker may have virtually eliminated the right of public workers to collectively bargain but that doesn't mean the unions are going aywhere. AFSCME's Ed Sadlowski joins me to talk the new emphasis of his union. Participation in organized labor has increased since Douche-Nozzle took office and we must use this momentum to bring some real change to not just our government but also our unions.
Ed Lump, top lobbyist for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, is urging the already anti-worker state legislature to reject federal unemployment funds. Lump has a long history of advocating for legislation that strips low-level employees of any protection whatsoever. Lump says there are plenty of jobs and that people just want to stay on unemployment. Doesn't his tribe constantly blame Obama for high unemployment? You can't have it both ways! Plus, the average unemployment compensation amounts to 9 dollars an hour, hardly a wage you can raise a family on or get ahead in this world.
Many responsible Madison restaurants are a part of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. I urge you to talk to your local restaurateur and tell them to stop giving money to this organization. Also call or email Ed Lump and tell him to stop attacking the unemployed.
Ed Lump 2801 Fish Hatchery Road Madison, WI 53713 608.270.9950 elump@wirestaurant.org
Unless you are in the millionaire class, this current corporate climate in Washington and Madison is enriching the wealthy while leaving you out to dry. John Nichols and I talk about the difference in taxation between small business and the corporate giants. We have a revenue problem here in America. The average citizen is paying more for less while wealth is being funneled to the tippy-top.
John and I also talk about Obama's speech on the Afghan War and why constant occupation of a failed state is draining our country of precious resources and not making us any safer.
