WI: Supreme Court recount gets rocky start in Waukesha County

[bobthedrummer]

by Larry Sandler and Laurel Walker (4-27-11 Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel)

"The state Supreme Court recount got off to a wobbly start here Wednesday.

After more than a half-hour of meticulous instructions and ground rules relayed by Waukesha County's chief canvasser, retired Judge Robert G. Mawdsley, questions were raised about the very first bag of ballots to be counted, from the Town of Brookfield.

As canvassers and tabulators compared a numbered seal on a bag with the number recorded for that bag by a town election inspector who prepared the paperwork on election night, the numbers didn't match..."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/120786814.html

THIS IS WHAT CORPORATE FASCISM LOOKS LIKE...

[MineralMan]

1. Ah, no wonder what's-her-name is a no-show.

I call shenanigans.

[Poboy]

2. R'd

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. Here we go. The first of many "errors", I'm sure.

Damn Repuke THUGS. They can't win elections by holding fair elections, so they have resorted to stealing them. I hope they FINALLY get caught.

[murielm99]

4. That link is not working for me. n/t

[PeaceNikki]

6. JS online is flakey today.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/120786814.html?page=1

[FourScore]

5. I can't get the link to work. Anyone else having trouble? n/t

[PeaceNikki]

7. Their page is acting up today.

This is the link, but it's hit or miss: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/120786814.html?page=1

[gkhouston]

8. I read the article earlier. Both campaigns have accepted the ballot bag from Brookfield.

The number on the seal matches the number on the bag. They think someone mistook a 2 for a 3 (or vice versa) on election night, hence the mis-match. The article didn't give the actual numbers, so I don't know how plausible that explanation is. I don't feel good that this "mistake" happened in Brookfield, of all places.

[pintobean]

9. Next paragraph:

Observers from the campaigns of Justice David Prosser and JoAnne Kloppenburg both agreed, however, that the error seemed to be in the inspector's use of a "2" instead of a "3." Numbers on the sealing tag and on the bag did match. Both sides and the Board of Canvassers agreed that the bag should be opened and the votes counted.

[deminks]

10. Here is a TPM link on the same story

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/wis-court-recount-off-to-rough-start-in-waukesha-county.php

[murielm99]

11. So the city of Brookfield and the town of Brookfield

are two different places. Do you have knowledge of this area, Bob? Can you enlighten us?

[PeaceNikki]

12. I am and can.

Yes, they are different.

http://www.townofbrookfield.com/
http://www.ci.brookfield.wi.us/

What would you like to know?

ETA: The City of Brookfield was formed in 1954 from the Town of Brookfield, a portion of which still survives along the city's western edge. The town is notable as the home of Elmbrook Church, the largest church in Wisconsin and one of the 100-largest in the United States. Caroline Ingalls, mother of Laura Ingalls Wilder, was born in the then Town of Brookfield, currently City of Brookfield

[gkhouston]

14. I think what we'd really like to know is: How squirrelly is this?

Is it just the town official mis-writing a digit on election night or is it possibly/probably Something More Sinister (cue dramatic music)?

[PeaceNikki]

15. My opinion?

If the Kloppenburg campaign agreed with the explanation, it's probably not as sinister.

I am literally heading over to Waukesha County to observe now.... have fun, y'all.

[gkhouston]

16. Thanks. You have fun, too, Nikki. Keep us updated. n/t

[Poboy]

13. .

[undeterred]

17. As the center of dispute, Brookfield is a good place to start.

I think this will be a good experience for everyone involved. I am looking forward to getting called, although I suspect there will be plenty of volunteers where I live. This is democracy in action.

I always assumed our process was secure, and now I know better.

[PeaceNikki]

18. It wasn't the City of Brookfield

It was the Town. Different.

[bobthedrummer]

19. Since Citizens United & other corporate fascist "mandates" apparently it's ok for DEAD PEOPLE to

have their votes counted here in Walkersin.

Anyone else heard about this?

[bobthedrummer]

20. another fuck up in Waukesha County??? (Lefta Dissenter thread started 4-28-11)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x981410

[bobthedrummer]

21. The link in my OP is ok-what else is up with the WI SC recount? n/t