Family Values Republicans Are an Ironic Lot

Republicans running in the Wisconsin senate recall campaigns are committed to making value decisions on families and communities.

Committed, but unqualified.

District 20 - Consider David Vanderleest, Republican candidate running against Senator Dave Hansen (D–Green Bay). Vanderleest is under investigation for child abuse, domestic violence and witness intimidation. [PolitiScoop]

District 18 - Sen. Randy 'Bed' Hopper - Well, we know his deal. But in fairness to Hopper, he did his family finances well by paying no income taxes between 1997 and 2008.

District 12 - Kim Simac  the "family values" candidate and founder of Northwoods Patriots ("Standing up for FAITH, Family and Country") explains the fact that she swapped spouses with her ex as "one of those quirky American stories." [The Atlantic Magazine]

As Republicans slap around Wisconsin families and assault communities, how about they lay off the family values malarkey?

Fond du Lac Voter Today: Would you like a poll tax, as well?

Hopper scores state job for mistress, at left

Heavy Early Turn-out in State Senate 'fake' Primary in Fondy

Report from Ward 10 in Fondy [Fond du Lac, Wisconsin], voters 388-90 at approximately 11:30 A.M at Rosenow Elementary School on Weis Avenue:

The poll worker's request to produce a Photo ID [ID not required but requested] reportedly met with a response: "Would you like a poll tax, as well?" as folks lined up to vote in the GOP-forced Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Senator Randy 'Bed' Hopper's (R-Fond du Lac) seat in Senate District 18.

The comment brought appreciative laughter from the line of people waiting to vote in the GOP-forced Democratic primary.

The expense to citizens of the Republicans' running fake Democrats in primaries like Sen. Hopper's will top $400,000, according to a June report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel at the precise time that Gov. Walker is gutting municipal, school district and county budgets.

Hopper is seen as among the top two most vulnerable of the nine state senators facing recall for [among other betrayals]:

• Usurping local control of government
• Attacking public workers, getting his girlfriend [while he was still married] a tax-payer-funded $40,000-plus state job,
• Being an all-around jerk. See video of Hopper tell one Wisconsin citizen, "I’m gonna get you for everything you have fucking done," in response to a simple question

Hopper buys new home, throws new fundraiser

GOP Hypocrite, Randy 'Bed' Hopper

WKOW TV reports State Sen. Randy Hopper brought a new home, and among the first things he did was hold a fundraiser.

House-warming gifts:

• Raising money to screw his constituents 
• Ditching local, community control
• Sleeping with real constituents, Scott Walker and the Koch brothers

No news on whether his GOP mistress is moving in to Fondy from Madison.

Hopper buys home, throws fundraiser

Fond du Lac County records show Sen. Randy Hopper purchased a home on the eve of a scheduled, political fundraiser at the residence featuring former republican governor Tommy Thompson.

Records show Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) finalized the purchase with a deed filed on June 22. Records show Hopper bought the Fond du Lac home from former owner Victoria Sadoff for $240,000. The property’s 2011 assessed value is $269,000.

Will Paul Ryan Call on Randy Hopper to Resign



GOP Jobs Program for Mistress

Representative Anthony D. Weiner announced his resignation last week, days after Rep. Paul Ryan said he ought to bow out.

"I don't see how he can stay. I know Anthony. I just don't understand," Ryan said of his colleague's behavior, (ABC News), repeating his sentiment on several news shows.

So, how does Ryan, the man who would destroy Medicare and cut funding for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), feel about the State Sen. Randy 'Bed' Hopper scandal and his mistress' $42,328 job with the Walker administration which said the mistress hiring is fine even as Walker says the state is broke?

The answer is: Not a word from Paul Ryan on Randy Hopper or the hiring scandal.

Apparently, Ryan is more understanding when family values hypocrisy and corruption are committed by Republicans.

GOP PR Operative: "No chance" Randy Hopper Survives Recall

Update: Randy Hopper (R-Empire (formerly Fond du Lac)), defeated in recall election by Democratic nominee, Oshkosh Deputy Mayor Jessica King, on August 9, 2011.

Recall Election Results
Jessica King ,   28,187  51%
Randy Hopper 26,937  49%
---
Well-known (and well-liked) writer and PR specialist James Wigderson at Wigderson Library and Pub says recall target State Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) is toast.

A head faint? No.

There is no chance Hopper can win the recall election. Is he watching Weiner get roasted? Hopper’s randy behavior makes him toasted. (It’s funnier because it rhymed.)

Blogger and Republican activist Kevin Binversie has suggested Hopper resign now to give the party a fighting chance to save the seat. My only addition to that would be that the Republican Party would have to be stupid to try to save him.

Armed Guards and Metal Detectors Await Wisconsinites Seeking Entry to Capitol—Formerly the People's House

Democracy dies under the GOP

A week after State Sen. Randy Hopper (Fond du Lac) was caught on video accosting and threatening a Wisconsin citizen in the capitol, Hopper ally, Gov. Scott Walker, continues to post armed guards and metal detectors in the People's House.

"Walker and Company have slowed public access to the Capitol to a near-halt. They’ve closed nearly all of the entrances to the Capitol and force every man, woman and child who doesn’t work in the building to go through metal detectors just to get inside," notes One Wisconsin Now. "I cannot tell you how outrageous it is to watch seniors citizens emptying their pockets and having their purses gone through just to visit the Capitol, or kids on a field trip being treated like they are a security threat."

The married Hopper is good at cheating on his wife and getting his 26-year-old mistress a job in the Walker administration, but not a peep out of Hopper or any other Republican on this ongoing assault against Wisconsin democracy and Wisconsin families.

Notes One Wisconsin Now: "Gov. Walker and the Republicans have repeatedly lied to people of Wisconsin about the security 'threats' at the Capitol and the peaceful protests of Walker's disastrous agenda."

Hopper too has skipped public events in his district, citing security threats.

Maybe Walker will make an exception for allowing easy entry for 20-something mistresses in the capitol. It would be a tiny step in the right direction for Wisconsin democracy under Republican rule.

Randy Hopper on Video: "I’m gonna get you for everything you have 'fracking' done"

Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) tells Wisconsin citizen, "I’m gonna get you for everything you have fucking done."

Hopper faces a recall election scheduled now for July 12, barring developments from Republican Court challenges to the recall petition and a GOP effort to run fake Democrats to force a primary.

From Paul I. Tascoupe at PolitiScoop last week:

Randy Hopper Causes GOP Worry

Sen. Randy Hopper HQ in Oshkosh?

Update: GOP seeks to delay elections, as the GAB moves scheduled election date to July 19.

Sen. Randy Hopper (Fond du Lac) should do the “the right thing” and not run in the Recall Election, said GOP radio host [and effectively a GOP operative] Charlie Sykes last week.

Sykes cited GOP polling that has Hopper polling poorly in the 18th Senate District recall election scheduled for July 12.

A source in the Democratic Party close to the Hopper recall effort said their polling confirms Sykes' report.

From xoff:

WisPolitics.com, in a report to subscribers, says there's a GOP movement underway to get State Sen. Randy Hopper out of the recall election for his seat.

Hopper, beset by personal problems as well as political ones, looks like a dead duck. He's being challenged by Jessica King, who came within an eyelash of beating him in 2008.

Hopper reportedly insists he's not getting out, but if Gov. Scott Walker were to dangle a higher-paying job in front of him he might have a change of heart. He could also face a primary, but no challenger has surfaced yet and that gets messy.

Rabid talker Charlie Sykes says Hopper should do 'the right thing' and step aside in the race because he's polling poorly

GOP Targets Middle Class

As Republicans keep the People's House blocked as an armed fortress, eight-year-old children are wanded -- as never before -- as Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) and the Republicans tow the line.

By Jim Hightower in Alternet

WISCONSIN. This is where America's middle class first planted its flag and confronted the civil war. As the Lowdown reported last month, newbie-Gov. Scott Walker's extremist, anti-worker agenda (developed for him by Koch-funded corporate front groups) sparked a massive grassroots rebellion of ordinary Wisconsinites, and they are not going away. In substance, Walker's attack on laboring people is much like his fellow right-wing guvs in other states. But he has been especially arrogant, autocratic, and abusive in trying to ram it into law, essentially operating as an above-the-law, tinhorn tyrant. Walker and his legislative henchmen -- openly backed by Koch money and operatives -- are big government on a rampage. Here are just a few of their ends-justify- the-means tactics:


When 14 stalwart Democratic senators left the state for Illinois to deny Walker the necessary quorum needed to pass his bill killing collective bargaining, his senate leader changed the rules so the 14 could not get their paychecks. When this silliness failed to lure any of them back, Walker's team plotted to send state troopers to arrest them -- even though they had broken no laws.

Furious at the Democrats, Walker got real petty. His legislative leaders decreed that the staffs of the 14 absent senators could not use copying machines in the capitol. That'll teach 'em!

With outraged protestors swarming into the capitol daily, Walker arbitrarily locked it down, illegally shutting peaceful Wisconsin citizens out of their own building.

From the start, Walker loudly insisted that suspending public employee rights was necessary to balance the state budget. Finally, though, with Democrats still denying him a quorum, he suddenly dropped his fiscal responsibility pose, stripped the bill of all budget numbers, and -- in a coup with little advance notice and no debate -- slammed the anti-worker provisions through.

A lawsuit, however, claims the bill's passage was illegal because senate leaders violated the open meetings law to sneak it through. To consider this, a judge has temporarily blocked the statute -- but Walker's agents made an end run and simply declared it enacted. No, said the judge, reinstating her injunction.

With the battle now in court, the GOP senate leader issued a new rule dictating that while the 14 senate Democrats are free to attend committee meetings and cast votes -- "those votes will not count." He was later forced to withdraw this autocratic absurdity.

Scott Walker: I know what's best for all cities, towns, villages

Hopper mistress gets state job in February

Good bye local control, Scott Walker is your mayor, manager, common council and board of village trustees.

You considering a school-voucher program at taxpayers' expense? Walker will tell you when, where and if.

You want paid sick pay for working families taken ill. Walker says 'no.' He has made his decision.

You want your teachers, snowplow drivers, nurses, prison guards, EMTs and public officials to make an honest living. Walker and the GOP will be the judge of that.

The GOP, along with Sen. Randy Hopper (Fond du Lac) and the whole bunch of them is going along for the ride as they secure state-funded jobs for their girlfriends and political contributors and their families; and turn their back on the rest of us.

MAL Is Running a 36-Hour Fundraiser

MAL at the Capitol

Update: Thank you! And see Republican leaders are counting on people being lost in the fray, caught off guard. (Sheilah)

To fund many, many hours of research, field work, gas and writing for MAL's Fight [our fight] against the Republican Party of Wisconsin, and for families:

Consider making a one-time [small] secure financial contribution by clicking on the Pay Pal button to the right of this column, just below the CoExist icon.

Thank you! I will not stop. And we will not fail.

MAL Contends blog on the Rachel Maddow Show blasting Randy Hopper and Wisconsin Republicans. (March 21, 2011)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

- Michael Leon is a writer living in Madison, Wisconsin. His writing has appeared nationally in The Progressive, The Advocate, In These Times and CounterPunch, Veterans Today, and locally in the Isthmus, Capital Times, Wisconsin State Journal and Corporate Report Wisconsin. Leon works as a writer, editor, veterans' advocate, and public relations consultant.

No Let-up on State Senator Randy Hopper

People are looking for recall petitions to sign

Though it's all over the Net that the recall campaign of State Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) has generated over the minimum amount of signatures, the message out of Fondy is: No let-up.

Legions of people in Senate District 18 want to lead the movement to stop the Republican Party—what has become an autocratic, nihilistic experiment in government against the people.

A recall signature is the first step because you can be damn sure Walker, Hopper and the Fitzgeralds don't care what you think or do.

Hopper and the regime think they can get away with anything; no consequences, no regrets.

Many political time bombs await; because the truth is: These aren't very bright guys and things are getting out of hand.

Tony Galli: Randy Hopper's girlfriend leapfrogged others who formally applied for state job

When it comes to Scott Walker's cabinet hiring state public workers like Sen. Randy Hopper's (R-Fond du Lac) girlfriend, it's all about who you know and who you know.

From Tony Galli [widely regarded as the the best investigative journalist in Madison] at WKOW27 News:

State records released to WKOW27 News show candidates for various jobs in Governor Walker’s administration were passed over despite recommendations from high-level officials, while a woman with ties to Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) was hired to a position with an immediate salary increase, without formally being recorded as a job applicant.

Officials said Valerie Cass, 26, was hired to a limited term communications specialist position in the department of regulation and licensing last month at a pay rate thirty five percent higher than the worker she replaced because the position’s duties were expanded to include legislative outreach activities. Cass’ salary is equivalent to $42,328 annually. Sources confirmed Cass has a relationship with Hopper, who is estranged from his wife and in the midst of a pending divorce matter. Hopper has denied to WKOW27 News playing any role in Cass’ hire. ...

Cass’ resume released to WKOW27 News listed a journalism degree from Marquette University [Graduated 2007 from the College of Communication; with a Bachelor of Arts; Major in Journalism], a stint as an aide to former state senator Ted Kanavas, and positions with ties to republican political campaigns. A December email released to WKOW27 News shows Cass corresponded with then-transition director Keith Gilkes about procuring unspecified work with the governor’s administration.

This Is Why We Fight Scott Walker and the GOP Eight

Via Zach

William Cronon: Wisconsin’s Radical Break

Sen. Joe McCarthy (R-Wisconsin) and Roy Cohn

"The turmoil in Wisconsin is not only about bargaining rights or the pension payments of public employees. It is about transparency and openness. It is about neighborliness, decency and mutual respect. Joe McCarthy forgot these lessons of good government, and so, I fear, has Mr. Walker. Wisconsin’s citizens have not."
- William Cronon, professor of history, geography and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (NYT, March 21, 2011)

Randy Hopper in Weird Campaign Mode

State Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac)

State Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) is in a strange campaign mode—hiding from his constituents.

Usually, when a politician wants to run for reelection, the most dangerous place to be is between him and a camera.

But Hopper did hire a high-priced political operative and is raising money, with many political TV ads to follow. Check out the next quarterly GAB finance report.

Hopper is in the worst political shape of the eight Republican state senators who look to be recalled.

I was in Fondy quite a bit recently, and believe me the appreciation for those who protect and serve, teach, clean, and treat is very high now.

Politics needs villains in campaigns. Teachers, EMTs, police, corrections officers, cooks and janitors just do not cut it as villains.

Hopper and Gov. Scott Walker do embody the worst characteristics of villains: Lying, scheming sociopaths targeting families and communities.

As Walker said last month to the phone caller whom he believed to be rightwing billionaire David Koch: "We’d already kinda built plans up, but it was kind of the last hurrah before we dropped the bomb." Walker was referring to cutting the salaries and benefits of the mentioned teachers, EMTs, police, corrections officers, cooks and janitors; and using them as pawns as he bragged about coming lay-off notices.

These families whom you use as pawns; they are living, breathing people with loving families, hopes and goals.

And please note: Wisconsin citizens do not like their governor and allies to drop bombs on them.

Blogging Blue Is Back Online

Blogging Blue broke a story on March 11 that IDed Sen. Randy Hopper’s (R-Fond du Lac) secret mistress-girlfriend-fellow GOP traveler as Valerie Cass, formerly of the GOP-connected Persuasion Partners, Inc., a right-wing lobbying firm, and now with the Scott Walker administration which gave her a cushy, tax-payer-funded job.

Blogging Blue also broke the fact of Cass' former employment with the state Senate Economic Development Committee, "of which Sen. Randy Hopper happened to be a member."

And he noted Persuasion Partners scrubbed their website on March 11.

For his trouble whether through heavy traffic or a cyber attack, Blogging Blue crashed. They're back!

Dan Bice: Sen. Randy Hopper's girlfriend gets publically funded state job at $20.35 per hour

Nice work if you can find it.

Republican political operative and Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) girlfriend, Valerie Cass, scored a nice tax payer-funded job last month for political services rendered.

Dan Bice at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has an excellent account of a corrupt political arrangement that smells even by the Scott Walker-Randy Hopper standards of misconduct.

An excerpt from Bice's column:

Even though the state is supposedly broke, top officials in Gov. Scott Walker's team were able to scrape together enough money to give a state job to the woman identified as Sen. Randy Hopper's girlfriend.

Anything for a political ally.

Valerie Cass, a former Republican legislative staffer, was hired Feb. 7 as a communications specialist with the state Department of Regulation and Licensing. She is being paid $20.35 per hour. The job is considered a temporary post.

Randy Hopper's Fall

For an excellent accounting of Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) who used to be known as a nice guy, but who fell hard for the Republican Party and told his community to go to hell, see: A Brief History of how Randy Hopper Lost Touch with his District.

John Nichols: Wisconsin GOP legislators head to D.C. for payoffs, er, campaign contributions

By John Nichols in the Cap Times

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, the consigliere for Gov. Scott Walker in the legislative fight to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public workers and to make it easier for the governor to transfer public property to campaign donors in no-bid deals, traveled to the nation’s capital Wednesday to collect tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from Washington-based lobbyists for corporate interests.

Fitzgerald was the “star” of a lavish fundraising event at the offices of the BRG lobbying group. The “B” in BRG stands for Barbour, as in veteran GOP fixer Haley Barbour, who is now the governor of Mississippi and a potential 2012 Republican presidential contender. The firm is one of the most powerful corporate lobbying groups in Washington, and it delivered big for Fitzgerald and his fellow senators.