Definitely re-elect
Posted by Charles II on June 4, 2012
Mary Bottari, PRWatch (via t/o)
So far the investigators have charged six people with 15 felonies; one person, who turned himself in to prosecutors, was convicted on two counts:
* Timothy Russell (former deputy chief of staff to Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker) was charged with two felonies, and one misdemeanor related to embezzlement of donations intended for Wisconsin veterans in a special fund, which was created at Walker’s direction. The money was used by Russell and his partner, Brian Pierick, to take a few vacations. Read the criminal complaint here.
* Brian Pierick (partner of Timothy Russell): charged with two felonies involving child solicitation. It appears Russell’s phone records led to Pierick and a nasty story about two men soliciting a 17-year old minor for sex. Read the criminal complaint here.
* Kevin Kavanaugh (appointed by Walker as a county veterans’ official): charged with five felonies related to embezzlement from the veterans fund. Kavanaugh appears to have been raiding the funds separately from Russell. Read the criminal complaint here.
* Kelly Rindfleisch (former deputy chief of staff to then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker): charged with four felonies relating to campaign fundraising while on the county payroll. Rindfleisch’s worked on a secret wifi system in her office just steps away from Walker’s office. Rindfleisch continued to work for Walker’s campaign until she was charged. Read the criminal complaint here.
* Darlene Wink (former aide to then-Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker): pled guilty to two unclassified misdemeanors as part of a deal that she made with the prosecutors relating to working on campaign fundraising while on the county payroll. Winks office was down a short hallway from Walker’s. Read the complaint here.
* William Gardner (President and CEO of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad): Gardner pled guilty to felony violations of Wisconsin’s election campaign laws in April of 2011. Gardner tried to convince prosecutors that his $50,000 in illegal contributions to Walker, which he funneled through his employees and a girlfriend, was an innocent mistake, except he had done the same thing the previous year. Read the criminal complaint here.
…
So far, 13 people have been granted immunity in the case, but not Walker according to court records
In addition to this, Walker has been dishonest and ineffectual. Yet he still leads in the polls, thanks to independents being split.
What is wrong with half of Wisconsin voters?
The Barrett campaign alleges there are voter suppression squads operating in Wisconsin.
I have to say, the failure of DPW and Tom Barrett to raise sufficient funds is disheartening. As Rachel Maddow pointed out, if the middle class were sufficiently energized to put up ten or twenty bucks, they could match the billionaires.
8 Responses to “Definitely re-elect”
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Mercury Rising 鳯女 
joel hanes said
What is wrong with half of Wisconsin voters?
Intense fear of status decline, coupled with a need to identify scapegoats.
Endemic in the United States.
MarkH said
If Walker is re-elected and then arrested and tried, who would take over? New election? Lt. gov.?
Charles II said
The Lieutenant Governor, Rebecca Kleefisch, would take over.
Rachel did a segment on her.
Phoenix Woman said
Kleefisch is getting recalled, too:
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/kleefisch-1st-lieutenant-governor-to-face-recall/5a183cdbcbbc429583e7aaae96d80f51
Charles II said
Ah, true, PW. If recalled, she would be replaced by the truly excellent head of the Firefighters union.
I think he believes that global warming is for real.
jo6pac said
As Rachel Maddow pointed out, if the middle class were sufficiently energized to put up ten or twenty bucks, they could match the billionaires.
This might come as a suprise but a lot of us don’t have an extra 10/20 to send. It’s that bad out here, she should know better than to say something like that.
Phoenix Woman said
Yeah, it all went to the billionaires.
Charles II said
Jo, I know a lot of people are squeezed and if you say that you can’t afford to donate, I trust you.
But only about 4% of Americans contribute any money at all to campaigns. Most people I know who complain of being poor are spending $1 a week on the lottery, or $5 a week on Circle K coffee, or something that truly would not kill them to sacrifice. They have forgotten what it means to have a democratic republic. 96% of the people cannot be free riders for a nation to remain free.