Jessica McBride asks:

WHERE ARE THE APOLOGIES TO MARK GREEN?

Joe Wineke, Bill Christofferson, and Jim Doyle, you should be first in line.

Wispolitics:

 Mark Green did not violate federal law when he transferred money from his congressional account to his gubernatorial fund for his 2006 bid, according to an FEC ruling. The decision was in response to a complaint the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign filed during the campaign, arguing Green's transfer of some $468,000 violated federal law because the transfer was not permissible under state statutes.

 But the FEC rejected that argument in its ruling, handed down April 30. It found the transfer was allowable under federal law and stated that a violation of state law did not equate a federal violation as well...

Should I be first, second or third in line? How about nowhere near the line?

Once in a blue moon I get to talk about an issue that I know something about. In this case, it's email. I've been an email administrator for a long time now in one capacity or another. So I find some of this discussion re: the RNC and White House email kind of interesting.

So it sounds like Karl Rove et al have been trying to make an end run around the White House email system by funneling a lot of mail through the RNC mail system instead. Okay, this may be illegal, and it certainly violates the government policies if it has happened. Spokes-folks are saying that the rules are just too complicated (I've read 'em, they sound pretty straightforward to me - what part of "thou shalt not" do Republicans seem to find so hard to comprehend?) and it certainly is sounding to me like this was an intentional attempt to hide communications that might be frowned upon by - er --- well, the public, the law, the voters, and just about everyone else.

Today's New York Times carries an editorial on the continuing scandals involving pressure to investigate trumped-up charges against Democrats throughout the country, and its relationship to the federal prosecutor findings. It uses Georgia Thompson as the prime example. The issue being raised here and elsewhere is - If some prosecutors were fired for not pursuing enough cases that benefited the Republicans - what did the others do to keep their jobs? 

As Congress investigates the politicization of the United States attorney offices by the Bush administration, it should review the extraordinary events the other day in a federal courtroom in Wisconsin. The case involved Georgia Thompson, a state employee sent to prison on the flimsiest of corruption charges just as her boss, a Democrat, was fighting off a Republican challenger. It just might shed some light on a question that lurks behind the firing of eight top federal prosecutors: what did the surviving attorneys do to escape the axe?

Thoughts about the 7th US Circuit of Appeals' stunning reversal of the Georgia Thompson case:

This was a total, humiliating embarrassment for Milwaukee-based US Attorney Steven Biskupic. The poor assistant US attorney who was tasked with appearing to argue the government's case, Greg Haanstad, (where was Biskupic?) was like a lamb led to slaughter. The three-judge panel eviscerated the government's case against Thompson.

The fact that the was issued within hours after oral arguments is almost unheard of. It's like a jury returning a verdict in 5 minutes. Almost no deliberation was needed.

The order set Thompson free immediately. She has served four months in a federal prison, because the Republican-appointed prosecutor and Republican-appointed federal judge would not agree to let her remain free while the case was appealed. Too great a threat to society, apparently (unlike Scott Jensen, who's still at large after three felony convictions.)

Some highlights follow below, but you can listen to the oral arguments yourself. Start at just before the midpoint to hear Haanstad being roasted.

This from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

Note that although it's not perfect, and it's not all-inclusive by any means, it's a step in the right direction.

WISCONSIN DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN E-LERT

In this update:
1. Doyle to sign ethics reform bill tomorrow
2. Up next: Campaign finance reform
3. Supreme Court race taking shape

Governor Jim Doyle will sign the ethics reform bill into law tomorrow morning, marking a happy ending to a long, tough fight to revive meaningful enforcement of high ethical standards and accountability in state government. To see newspaper coverage of the near-unanimous approval of the reform measure by the Legislature, go here. For television coverage, go here. To read the editorial on the subject that appeared in this morning's edition of the state's largest newspaper, go here.

Join Governor Jim Doyle & Baseball Legend Hank Aaron for a rally at Carson Park

Governor Doyle will outline his vision for Wisconsin's future & highlight the Doyle-Lawton record of creating jobs, making health care more affordable, and investing in our schools. We hope to see you there! WHERE: Carson Park - Hank Aaron Plaza Eau Claire, WI Rain Location: Inside Carson Park Stadium WHEN: Thursday October 19, 2006, 12:15 p.m.

Location(s)

Come to our meeting and find out how you can help!
We must get out of our comfort zone and do voter contact, or we could be much more uncomfortable with continued Republican rule.

Thursday, Oct. 19 Dunn County Democrats meet at Leisure Center
6:30 for dessert & coffee; 7:00 business meeting

AGEMDA

Call to order & sign in

Location(s)

Fighting Bob Fest was a big success again this year.

There was a good attendance, and the rain that was promised managed to hold off until Sunday, although it was very cold, especially in the morning.

We will be bringing you more coverage of Fighting Bob Fest - but for now, here's some audio and some pictures.

It seems that he believes that the reason we aren't having enough jobs in Wisconsin is because we're letting the government handle job creation.  

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green announced a broad jobs plan Monday that includes replacing the state Department of Commerce with a public-private corporation to attract business to the state and setting up a jobs hot line in the governor's office.