Open Forum   

I haven’t been that inspired to write lately, so I’ll leave it to you guys.

First a Rant against Time Warner Cable:

My wife and I canceled our digital cable and decided to do internet streaming and it has been a great relief to break the shackles (most of them except for internet service) of Time Warner Cable. Every moment dealing with them has been excruciating from setting up the service since we bought our house to getting rid of digital cable it has been a nightmare.

Get this, I canceled the service on the 16^th of February and found out they were billing me until the day they decided to un-hook the service. Huh! It’s not my fault that they are slow to un-hook it. I should not have to pay for their slow response. Then to add insult to injury they un-hooked my internet service that same day which I had kept!!!

Anyway we are happy saving over $1,000 more a year from Time Warner’s terrible prices and horrible customer service.

     So have at it, keep it nice.

 What do you want to talk about first?

I am not against the mine per say, in fact I could have supported the bill if I was not against how the bill was written and how Gogebic Taconite basically blackmailed the state and how (R- WI WMC) showed that they represented WMC and GT, and failed their constituent tax payers do to their inability to compromise

With the inability for the majority of republicans to compromise with the minority democrats just to get ONE to vote with them and Dale Schultz (R-Wisconsin) prove’s just how far right Wisconsin republicans have gone and how they preferred to bend to the wishes of Gogebic Taconite . Think about it Gogebic Taconite went directly to (R -WI WMC) of our state and basically said “You change your laws to how we want them or we won’t give you jobs.” Typically (R -WI WMC) was more than happy to bend over to their corporate masters and let them re-write the law to favor them.

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"Senate rejection of the mining reforms . . . sends a clear message that Wisconsin will not welcome iron mining. We get the message," said a statement from Bill Williams, president of Gogebic Taconite LLC. "(We are) ending plans to invest in a Wisconsin mine." http://www.twincities.com/wisconsin/ci_20117364/contentious-iron-mining-bill-falters-wisconsin-senate?source=rss

Seriously, the original assembly bill that passed was written by Gogebic Taconite and WMC in private: “The bill was largely written by five Republicans and their staffs who huddled for months with different parties, including the business lobby Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and representatives of iron ore mining company Gogebic Taconite, which wants to construct a mine in northern Wisconsin.” http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/legislators-worked-with-gogebic-taconite-on-mining-bill-593fk2n-135902053.html Conservation groups, the Bad River, the Red Cliff and other tribes, were not even included or briefed in the original bill writing process!

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 Scott Fitzgerald (R - WI WMC) who threw away the original compromise bill that might have passed that would have moderated the assembly bill which would have had Dale Shultz and Bob Jaunt and probably Tim Carpenters support, but “Earlier last week, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald dissolved his own Select Committee on Mining Jobs, which had been working on a compromise version that differed by only a few points (notably adding a new tax that would mainly benefit adjacent communities), to push the harsher Assembly version to the heavily Republican JFC. Fitzgerald said the move was to ensure the bill passed before the March 15 conclusion of the legislative session.”  http://dane101.com/government/2012/02/20/assembly_mining_bill_fasttracked_but_fitzgerald_schultz_say_changes_on_the_way

Scott Fitzgerald even admits that Gogebic Taconite wrote the bill:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-E55xNGhmQ&feature=player_embedded I thought that Scott Fitzgerald was supposed to represent the Taxpayers, not some lobbying organization and a corporation?

So the evidence proves that Wisconsin republicans in the legislature and Scott Walker represent WMC and Gogebic Taconite’s interests first.

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Right now rightwing hate radio is saying that this all because of the evil liberals and democrats fault that the bill will not pass; yawn repeated talking points on these blogs. Yet If you think about it critically, it is Scott Fitzgerald’s fault and (R – WI ALEC) this bill has not passed yet, for his flip-flop on the Senate committee which would not give Gogebic Taconite its demands and then pushing the assembly bill he knew would not make it through the senate. As well, we should all remember about recent history when R-ALEC trampled in before the first recalls last year and could care less about consensus. Do conservatives have that short of a memory when you forget you were using daggers instead of hand shakes, and now you want us to accept your olive branch? When we all know behind your (R-ALEC) back is a dagger.

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          Scott Walker and (R – WI ALEC) except for Dale Schultz (R-Wisconsin), burned the bridges of compromise the second they got power. They only have themselves to blame for not being able to get one democrat to vote for their corporate written Assembly bill.  Now the rest of us in this state have to live with the division they created. Divide and conquer only has short lived gains in politics and only appeals to a small minority of extremists in the base.

They should have thought twice about their early no compromise strategy last year, it is now coming back to haunt them and us.

The Gogebic Taconite & WMC written bill not passing is Scott Fitzgerald’s (R – WI ALEC) failure to make consensus and to compromise with the very few state senators that would vote for the compromise bill.

The Democratic Process is important. Not trying to get some consensus and some buy in by ignoring environmental interests and Native American tribes in the drafting of the original Assembly bill is WHY the custom mining bill for Gogebic Taconite has not passed.

Not trying, is not an excuse.

The failure is by those who hold the slim majority and thus had the power to present a bill that would garner more votes.

Edit 3/10/12 12:35 pm: Changed Title

Recently a poster in the last blog topic, in re-tort to me, used the name of my wife in the reply.

Unless we are discussing my wife, she has no place in the conversation. I view it as intimidation.

Not only did they use my wife’s name but had specific information on what recall petition we both signed and pointed out where I live.

"geno53151 - Mar 15, 2012 9:02 AM Jacob's hate of Governor Walker is so bad, he does not want him and Republicans to get credit for creating jobs that would result in bettering the lives of those who would find work at the mines.. Anything else is just words. Jacob, was it you and your wife …… who signed the Recall Walker Petition 4145. It was long before any vote on the mining bill. I also did not know you lived in Milwaukee."

In this heated political climate with threats from both sides those against the right are well documented and specific threats made against those who have signed a recall have also been documented.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDlA3A_2JQI

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/21/police-investigate-death-threats-against-walker-recall-activists/

http://crooksandliars.com/kenneth-quinnell/facebook-page-threat-or-warning

With this being the case and being specifically targeted for signing the petition, doing the work to find out were in the petition we signed, then using my wife's name and involving and targeting where I live. I am taking this as a threat to intimidate me from writing my opinions on this blog.

I will view any and all specific information about my family and specific details in posts as intimidation and a possible threat.  

There will be no second chances to posters who use these tactics.

I will not be intimidated and will continue to publish my opinion. If you wish to try to silence my opinion you will be sorely mistaken.

  I will push back twice as hard and immediately involve law enforcement with the cooperation of LLC and JS communications.
 

EDIT: 3/19/12  Added Content

This is what my wife has to say regarding this:

geno 3151- I do NOT appreciate having my name dragged into this forum. What was your point of bringing my name into this? Pointless. Or was it to show loyal posters that you have more than enough time to waste looking for names of people you do not agree with? Hooray for you! I choose to be productive with my time.

You talk and talk and talk about public information, public records. Yes, it’s public information. But you are an example of someone who abuses that information. You chose to abuse the information by bringing my name into this. Was your point to try to bully my husband? By the way, did you actually read the legal disclaimer on the iverifytherecall website? Explicitly stated: You agree that you will not use the information contained herein for any commercial, improper or unlawful purpose. I’d say it was most certainly improper of you to abuse the information but throwing my name out there.

Just because you have some issues with my husband's political point of view, that gives you no right to drag my name into this. I don't know you from a hole in the wall and I care to keep it that way. Should anything happen to me, my house, my family, thank you for giving me a good starting point on which to base my suspicions.

ALEC: www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Legislative_Exchange_Council

ALEC legislatures: www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians

Wisconsin ALEC’s Representative Lobbyists:

Rep. Tyler August (R-32), ALEC International Relations Task Force/Federal Relations Working Group Task Force Member
Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-41), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Alternate, Public Safety and Elections Task Force Alternate
Rep. Kathy Bernier (R-68), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member
Rep. Mike Endsley (R-26), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
Rep. Paul Farrow (R-98), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (R-39), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member,
Rep. Mark Honadel (R-21)
Former Rep. Michael Huebsch (R), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member and former State Chairman
Rep. Andre Jacque (R-2), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
Former Speaker Scott Jensen (R), ALEC Member
Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-33), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Alternate
Rep. John Klenke (R-88), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
Rep. Joseph Knilans (R-44), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
Rep. Dan Knodl (R-24), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Alternate, Public Safety and Elections Task Force Alternate
Rep. Dean Knudson (R-30), ALEC Education Task Force Alternate
Rep. Bill Kramer (R-97), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
Rep. Scott Krug (R-72), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Alternate
Rep. Mike Kuglitsch, ALEC International Relations Task Force/Federal Relations Working Group Task Force Member
Rep. Tom Larson (R-67), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
Rep. Daniel LeMahieu (R-59), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
Rep. Michelle Litjens (R-56), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Alternate
Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-45), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Alternate
Rep. Howard Marklein (R-51), ALEC Education Task Force Member
Former Rep. Phil Montgomery (R) (head of the Wisconsin Public Services Commission as of 2011),Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
Rep. Stephen Nass (R-31), Education Task Force Member
Rep. John Nygren (R-88), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
Rep. Warren Petryk (R-93), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
Rep. Roger Rivard (R-750, ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
Rep. Erik Severson (R-28), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
Rep. Jim Steineke (R-5), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
Rep. Patricia Strachota (R-58), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member
Rep. Scott Suder (R-69), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member and Co-chair of the Homeland Security Committee in 2007
Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-52), ALEC Education Task Force Alternate
Rep. Travis Tranel (R-49), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Alternate
Rep. Karl Van Roy (R-90), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
Rep. Robin Vos (R-63), ALEC State Chairman, Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member, and attended 2011 ALEC annual meeting
Rep. Chad Weininger (R-4), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Alternate
Rep. Evan Wynn (R-43), ALEC Education Task Force Alternate

Edit: 3/25/12 9:45am added content

In case you were wondering were the Castle Doctrine came from:

http://www.thenation.com/article/167014/exposed-corporations-behind-law-may-let-trayvon-martins-killer-go-free

"It’s been widely reported today that the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the shadowy corporate front group that unites state lawmakers with corporations to pass state laws favorable to corporate interests, helped pass the law that might allow Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, to escape prosecution. Florida’s “Stand Your Ground,” the law that might help Zimmerman to claim self-defense (despite evidence to the contrary) is just one of many state laws that is nearly identical to ALEC’s model Castle Doctrine Act. The Florida senator who introduced the law, Durell Peadon, was also a member of ALEC. The law passed in 2005"

"According to the Center for Media and Democracy, 98 percent of ALEC’s revenues come from corporations, corporate trade groups, and corporate foundations. Each member pays annual fees of between $7,000 and $25,000. ALEC is also supplemented by direct grants."

http://www.campusprogress.org/articles/conservative_corporate_advocacy_group_alec_behind_voter_disenfranchise/

"Deemed the “political player you’ve never heard of” by Fortune magazine earlier this year, ALEC was launched in 1973 by Heritage Foundation founder Paul Weyrich and is funded by conservative organizations including the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and the John M. Olin Foundation. ALEC’s “Private Enterprise Board,” includes representatives from companies including Peabody Energy, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Wal-Mart, as well as Koch Industries."

"And in Wisconsin, that member is Rep. Scott Suder (R-District 69), the state’s Majority Leader, who ushered the legislation through the Wisconsin State Assembly. That legislation includes provisions similar to the ALEC model legislation, which Campus Progress obtained from a source outside of ALEC. This copy shows that the model law was approved by the ALEC board of directors on Aug. 27, 2009."

Let’s see Prosser said he would Compliment Walker’s Agenda.

Gableman & Zeigler were paid for by WMC, a well known fact.

Rogensack she always agrees with Prosser, Gableman, and Zeigler.

The judgment will be 4 to 3 like usual.

It kind of makes a joke out of the right-wingers attacking judges who signed the recall of Walker by using “Iverifytherecall”, to target them.

 Pot please call kettle black! Lines are open.

   We all know that the court that really matter’s is already dominated by partisan conservatives who legislate from the bench at every opportunity. That ideology trumps state and federal law.

   We all know how they will rule and what it means.

      It’s a right to vote for conservative republicans, but a privilege to vote for anyone else.