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I'm not sure what impact this had on the recall election this Tuesday night in Wisconsin, but I agree with state Sen. Lena Taylor that those responsible ought to be held to account for this voter suppression tactic. Maybe if we had a few more people going to jail for pulling these type of stunts, they'd be less likely to do it in the first place. It's shameful that Republicans have proven themselves once again willing to do whatever is necessary to suppress voter turnout in order to make sure they win elections.

Wisconsin State Senator: investigations and prosecutions needed for voter suppression:

Investigations and criminal prosecutions are needed for election fraud in Tuesday night's gubernatorial election, Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor said. Taylor wrote to the state's Government Accountability Board, arguing that "It is imperative that your agency uphold the law and criminally prosecute any person that is engaged in voter suppression and disenfranchisement tactics." Robocalls have been made to citizens in Wisconsin misleadingly telling them that they needn't vote if they already signed the petition to recall Governor Scott Walker. "It is my understanding that a reporter did call and find out that that call did come from the Republican Party,"

Taylor said, speaking on The Ed Show. "I'm looking forward to the GAB doing an investigation, and I think the Attorney General also should have done and should be doing an investigation of anyone who is attempting to intimidate or to give misinformation to voters in order to suppress votes."Taylor said that the robocalls were an obvious attempt to reverse the momentum that the pro-recall side has made. "They know that the momentum is with [Milwaukee Democratic Mayor]Tom Barrett and they’re determined to cheat and do whatever they can,” she said. “I will characterize this robo-call, frankly, as a disgusting tactic. A fear tactic."

IMHO anyone engaging in this sort of activity ought to be facing some severe criminal penalties and looking at some real jail time for doing it. I'm no expert on Wisconsin law and do not know what the punishment is if they can prove who was making these calls. I was glad to see the state Senator call for the matter to be looked into. I'm sick to death of this type of tactic being allowed to go on and I hope sincerely that Ed Schultz follows up on it so what happened receives some further scrutiny than just the coverage on his show this Tuesday evening.

Good morning, today is Wednesday, June 6th, the day after battle, with a war left to win.

Barrett concedes:

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett conceded to Gov. Scott Walker late Tuesday, thanking supporters and saying, "I'm honored that you fought for this democracy."

He said he had just called Walker to congratulate him.

"It's important for us to work together," Barrett said. "This has been the most amazing experience of our lives. We've seen this democracy come alive."

For those who fought in the streets of Madison in the cold and collecting signatures and worked in the election he said: "Never, ever stop doing what you think is right."

***

News organizations are all calling it for Walker, based on exit polls. But Barrett refuses to concede, citing the people still waiting in line to vote in three liberal counties:

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker beat back a recall challenge Tuesday, winning both the right to finish his term and a voter endorsement of his strategy to curb state spending, which included the explosive measure that eliminated union rights for most public workers.

The rising Republican star becomes the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall attempt with his defeat of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and the union leaders who rallied for months against his agenda.

With 37 percent of precincts reporting, Walker was ahead 59 percent to Barrett's 40 percent, according to early returns tabulated by The Associated Press.

A Barrett spokesman said the campaign was not conceding, citing ongoing voting in Milwaukee, Madison and Racine.

"We feel very confident when those come in, Tom Barrett is going to win," Phil Walzak said.

Democrats and organized labor spent millions to oust Walker, but found themselves hopelessly outspent by Republicans from across the country who donated record-setting sums to Walker. Republicans hope the victory carries over into November and that their get-out-the-vote effort can help Mitt Romney become the first GOP nominee to carry the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

Via Wisconsin's local ABC affiliate:

The passions that fueled a fight lasting more than a year over union rights and Wisconsin's cash-strapped budget brought voters out in strong numbers Tuesday to decide whether to recall Gov. Scott Walker.
...
"People in Wisconsin aren't just going to stand by and let a governor take over the state and cut social services," said Switzer, 48, an occupational therapist and single mother on BadgerCare, the state's health insurance program for the working poor.
...
Preliminary exit poll results conducted Tuesday for The Associated Press suggest the public's views on the changes made to collective bargaining laws are deeply entrenched. About three quarters either strongly approve or strongly disapprove of the changes to collective bargaining for government workers. Overall voters were about evenly divided on the question, with about half approving and half disapproving of those changes.

And most voters made up their mind about whom to support before the final ballots were even set. About 9 in 10 in early exit polling said they decided who to vote for before May.

If you voted today in Wisconsin's Recall election, please visit this site to report your vote or any problems at the polls.

One of the most inspiring labor songs, "Bread and Roses", to photos of the public worker protest in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Kissers perform "Scotty, We're Coming For You" at a rally in support of workers' rights at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. on Mar. 19, 2011. Iraq Veterans Against the War marched to the Capitol, accompanied by firefighters and members of AFL-CIO to rally against Gov. Scott Walker, whose budget repair bill would strip public workers of their collective bargaining rights.

Rapper Jasiri X has released a new video and remix of his song "You're Fired," dedicated to the recall of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. The new video features Walker's Democratic opponent Tom Barrett, activist Van Jones, Congresswoman Gwen Jones and a host of activists from the Rebuild WI event from May 19 in Milwaukee. The video was directed by Paradise Gray, with additional footage from Maxwell Love, and Joe Brusky.

The song lyrics:

Yeah, it's time for a Recall
United we stand divided we fall
We tired of being treated like we small
You forgot you work for us and we the boss

So let's tell Scott Walker you're fired
Go clean out ya desk cause you're fired
Cash that last check cause you're fired
You don't wanna show us respect now you're fired

The powers with the people don't let these coward device you
Like since it's time to vote now they need you
We are not who these politicians speak to
When it's $10,000 a plate just to meet you
Ask Mr Walker about all his offers
Barely half a term look how much it cost ya
Month after month of consecutive job losses
While he with the Koch brothers in aspen straight flossin
He's with the NRA they got they guns cocked
He passed stand your ground just took him one shot
And that lead to the death of Bo Morrison
Such a bright future now they're more morning him
This election they don't even want you voting in
Tried to make you have an ID before going in
But now accountable is what we're holding them
Open up the polls we got the whole hood rolling in

Yeah, it's time for a Recall
Untied we stand divided we fall
We tired of being treated like we small
You forgot you work for us and we the boss

So let's tell Scott Walker you're fired
Go clean out ya desk cause you're fired
Cash that last check cause you're fired
You don't wanna show us respect now you're fired

Is this who you really want as ya governor
The second he gets elected wanna stunt on ya
Got you're vote now he got no love for ya
Every day he got a new way of hand cuffing ya
Like education nah we don't need that
We don't wanna to pay anybody to teach that
Ease back see they really believe that
Smart people vote so they don't want you to be that
Or make a good living that pays
Scott Walker rather see you making minimum wage
With no unions, no benefits and no future
So his corporate friends can stay rich it's so super
Unless you're working class or poor
they always slam the door on what we asking for
It's all we can stand and we can't stand no more
Of these hardcore liars Scott Walker you're fired

Stephen Colbert discusses Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's bold new policy requiring protesters to pay for the right to protest.

Teachers cancel school, state capitol building mobbed, media silent ... the people's uprising jumps from Cairo to Madison.

From February 2011:

"People like Scott Walker can try and take away our collective bargaining, but they can’t take away our collective action." The working people of America continue their stand at the Wisconsin Capitol today, and workers everywhere stand with them.