Found this posted on DU and had to share, too good not to share with more
- The people fighting the good fight in Wisconsin are the best!!!!!
The Wisconsin members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) are the scum of the earth.
One of our First Amendment warriors was removed from the Wisconsin State Assembly Gallery and arrested for "disorderly conduct" (as many have been) for holding a sign that referenced ALEC, and she was holding up several dollar bills. The great thing was that she was pointed out by a republican legislator during the session - "Would someone remove that woman who has the ALEC sign and the money...," which gave the Dems the opportunity to respond that she obviously was there for the republicans.
OK, so we're under such an attack that we have to get our pleasure in simple ways...
Good luck with your action, and thank you for helping to educate about ALEC.
Ott (R) is the one who asked for ***** to be removed.
Pocan (D) then stood up ONCE AGAIN to try to get the republicans to consider a bill to honor the First Amendment in the Assembly.
Sinicki (D) is the one who clarified that if there's someone from ALEC, they're there for the republicans, not for the Dems.
On that night, there were 18 arrests for people either holding a piece of paper, or having a camera (or facsimile thereof) in the Gallery.
I was told repeatedly to put down my 4" x 6" flag, but was not arrested for it, while people WERE arrested for holding a 3" x 5" card "like a sign."
. FIRST AMENDMENT, USE IT OR LOSE IT
Watch it unfold here....
Ott - Protecting ALEC members is a waste of time! ALEC members made their choice - time to reap the consequences!
A little bit of trivia and history before I get this piece going.
Did you know ALEC had a TV Show?
National Empowerment Television (NET), also known as America's Voice, was a cable TV network designed to rapidly mobilize Religious Right followers for grassroots lobbying. It was created by Paul M. Weyrich, a key strategist for the secular and religious right. At its peak, it claimed to reach more than 11 million homes.
NET began in 1993 as a project of Weyrich's Free Congress Foundation and went to air for the first time on December 6, 1993.
However, Weyrich's strident political tone brought him into conflict with Robert Sutton, a broadcast executive who had been hired to run the network. Sutton persuaded the network's board to force out Weyrich in a hostile takeover, but the station continued to flounder financially. In 2000, it was purchased by E-Cine, a Dallas-based multimedia company, which briefly returned Weyrich to the airwaves before succumbing to bankruptcy later that year. (Source:Wiki)
Reported in the ALECStates and Nation newsletter Summer of 1995
ALEC is "On the Air"
First Interactive Show Between the States and Congress
Broadcasts Over NETSource:ALEC
Call it long-distance caucusing. Or virtual conferencing. Actually, either description is appropriate for STATE LINES, ALEC'S live network broadcast on the Free Congress Foundation's National Empowerment Television Network (NET). In a world where everyone seems too busy to slow down, congressional leaders in Washington and state legislators across the nation are able to discuss issues on STATE LINES without anyone ever leaving town. Viewers at home—or at legislative caucuses across the country — interact in real-time with congressmen and business leaders at NET's Washington studio.
In the aftermath of the November 1994 election where voters cried out for less government, STATE LINES was birthed as a means to advance the popular push for a return to federalism. From the beginning, the STATE LINES production staff envisioned the broadcasts to be intimate and thoughtful sessions carried on between members of Congress and legislators in every state. STATE LINES is broadcast in more than 37 major metropolitan areas and may be found in more than 16 million homes. NET began airing the one-hour show February 1. Since then, more than 30 Members of Congress have appeared and discussed issues that apply to the states. Through July (26 shows), the congressmen and private sector guests had responded to calls from nearly 100 legislators from 45 states.
“ There is no other show out there that allows state legislators and Congressmen to have such close interaction."
May 24: The federal bugdet [sic] was the subject for the full hour. Congressmen Sam Brownback (Kan.) and Mike Parker (Miss.) were the guests.
This is as close as I have come to proving that Sam Brownback is affiliated to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). And in my opinion it’s a pretty good link when you consider the fact that he was on a ALEC show, specifically designed to “educate” ALEC legislators.
In addition – he wrote the forward to the ALEC report “Rich States Poor States” in 2011. Giving Brownback almost 20 years of friendship and affiliation with ALEC.
Today's Topics About Brownback
Well the topic today is Sam Brownback and his lack of tolerance – which IMHO is a trademark of anyone affiliated with ALEC – megalomaniacs who don’t like to be questioned.
Two things happened this week that people should know about.
In a blatant violation of the First Amendment, a public high school in Prairie Village, Kansas disciplined a student for speaking out against Gov. Sam Brownback (R-KS):
During the session, in which Brownback addressed the group, Sullivan posted on her personal Twitter page: “Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot”
It’s troubling that Brownback’s staff is so thin skinned that they felt the need to call down the government’s wrath on a high school student who had the audacity to criticize the governor.
Second – A piece that showed up on Daily Kos with a link to a disturbing account of use of violence at a Brownback townhall meeting – another account well worth the read.
When the protesters were finished, they walked peacefully out of the room but not before some four to five police officers came rushing in as if terrorists were on the loose. I was sitting at a table near the entrance and I was alarmed over how serious and determined the police seemed to be as they came into the room. As one officer passed my table, I heard him say something about finding the ringleader or getting the leader. I never imagined these officers would be so brutal in their treatment to one protester in particular.
It should be noted for the record that there were some tall men protesting that day. However, the Wichita police officers decided to pick on the short women.
That's right; the Wichita police arrested 61-year-old Doris Gent (Ravenfeather) a Native American woman who happens to have a disabled child at home and a husband who has been laid off from work.
This 'dangerous citizen' was duly thrown into the wall at the Drury Hotel, with her arm pulled up so violently and twisted from behind that the next day she had to visit Wesley Hospital's Emergency Room. She has bruises on her arm and a strained neck. She was given pain killers and told she would feel a lot worse before she got better.
This is why we MUST remove all ALEC affiliated legislators from office.
ALEC and ALEC members think they own the world and that citizens have no rights in an “ALEC World” - ONLY ALEC corporate sector / private enterprise members have rights ...
The following article is a must read - it was brought to my attention by the MN Uncut newspaper.
The interesting thing about this article is that it stresses just how immoral the 1% and banksters are, BUT it brings to our attention that the immoral 1%-ers aren't just old banksters.
They are young
and in this case they are dirty
and in this case - they should be ashamed, but they aren't - which is the saddest part.
The 89 employees of a New York law firmspecializing in foreclosures who dressed as homeless people during an office Halloween party last year have been thrown out on the street.
Steven J. Baum P.C., a firm that specialized in foreclosures, is closing its doors a month after photos showing employees celebrating Halloween by dressing like the homeless surfaced in a New York Times column by Joe Nocera
As you look at the slideshow (there are 6 slides, I had to manually choose them with the boxes above the first slide) - know that this is the 1% now (young and dirty) and forevermore.
Their IVY league educations, their 1% bosses and their fancy homes on Long Island forget to teach them the difference between right and wrong, good and evil - moral and immoral.
This is wrong.
This is evil.
This is immoral.
These are your young 1%-ers.
- I hope all of them are unemployed for a long long time.
If you voted for a person that signed his “No New Taxes” Pledge
– YOU are to blame for the stalemate in congress.
Grover Norquist holds YOU responsible!
His pledge is not responsible – YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE if you voted for and elected people who signed the “No New Taxes Pledge”
YOU ARE TO BLAME!
Here are excerpts from last night’s 60 Minutes interview with Grover Norquist – I suggest you read the transcript or watch the entire video.
Kroft: But you're the keeper of the pledge.
Norquist: We remind your voters that you took the pledge.
Kroft: You are the ones that are--
Norquist: That's true.
Kroft: --gonna retaliate if they break the pledge.
Norquist: Oh, no, no, no. The voters will retaliate. We may inform the voters. But let's say the voters all want --
Kroft: Inform the voters with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign or educational -
Norquist: Nineteen--
Kroft:--expenditures to point out the fact that they broke the pledge.
Norquist: If necessary.
Kroft: But you make it pretty clear. If someone breaks the pledge, you're gonna do everything you can to get rid of them.
Norquist: To educate the voters that they raise taxes. And again, we educate people--
Kroft: To get rid of them.
Norquist: To encourage them to go into another line of work, like shoplifting or bank robbing, where they have to do their own stealing.
Kroft: You've got them by the shorthairs.
Norquist: The voters do. Yeah.
-dot-dot-dot
Simpson: He may well be the most powerful man in America today. So if that's what he wants, he's got it. You know, he's -- megalomaniac, ego maniac, whatever you want to call him. If that's his goal, he's damn near there. He ought to run for president because that will be his platform: 'No taxes, under any situation, even if your country goes to hell.'
Simpson also wants to know where Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform, with its multimillion dollar budget gets its money.
Simpson: When you get this powerful, and he is, then it's, 'Where do you get your scratch, Grover?' Is it two people? Is it 10 million people? The American people demand to know where you get your money, Grover babe.
-dot-dot-dot
Kroft: I mean, you've got them coming and you've got them going if they're a Republican. If they sign the pledge and break it they're toast. And if they don't sign the pledge they're probably toast.
Norquist: But if they sign it and keep it, they win the primary. They win the general. They get to govern. And, I've helped make all this possible.
If you voted for a person that signed his “No New Taxes” Pledge
– YOU are to blame for the stalemate in congress.
Hear that ?? – Grover Norquist says: YOU ARE TO BLAME! For the stalemate in Congress!
Voting has consequences! Signing PLEDGES has consequences!
- a "No New Taxes" legislator - state or federal level
- who says they are changing their mind now -
is probably lying to you.
AND it's too late - butthead
- the damage caused by you signing Norquist's pledge
is already done!
Kick their a$$ out of office
and elect someone smart enough to NOT SIGN PLEDGES!
Voting has consequences! Signing PLEDGES has consequences!
- a "No New Taxes" legislator - state or federal level
- who says they are changing their mind now -
is probably lying to you. AND it's too late - butthead
- the damage caused by you signing Norquist's pledge
is already done!
Kick their a$$ out of office
and elect someone smart enough to NOT SIGN PLEDGES!
When it comes to the North Carolina state Motto and ALEC member the following definitely is true.
"The Numbers of the really virtuous are not so great, as they appear to be."
Each person on the list has been compiled and cited using the web and you can also find the proof by researching through ALEC documents, reports and magazines, the North Carolina manual and campaign finance pages, and various other webpages.
David Gregory
Blamer
Phil
Berger
James B
Black
Joann
Walker Bowie
Harold
Brubaker
Debbie
Clary
George
Cleveland
Howard
Coble
Andrew T
Dedmon
Jerry
Dockham
Beverly
Miller Earle
David T
Flaherty
Phillip
Frye
Will Edward
Gooddall, Jr
W David
Guice
Jesse
Helms
Craig
Horn
Julia
Howard
Walter
Jones
Carolyn
Justus
Stephen
LarRoque
Richard T
Morgan
Wil
Neuman
Robert
Pittenger
Karen
Ray
Fred F.
Steen
Bonner
Stiller
Gregg
Thompson
Thom
Tillis
Constance
Kramer Wilson
MoreNorth Carolinalegislators can be found at ALEC Exposed– because they access to leaked documents that I don’t have.Since I don’t have these documents on file – I won’t list those people in my blog.
AND if your legislator is not on either list – contact them and ask them, “Are you a member of ALEC?There’s quite a few people on this ALEC list – I’d ask if I were you.
So what – what if people had a list – what does that accomplish?
What would happen if people had a list - what will it accomplish?
Does it really hurt ALEC if a list were available or would ALEC just go on – business as usual?
How would this information be used in a constructive way?
What is next – we HAVE TO REMOVE all ALEC members from state and federal government.It is our role to make sure that they don’t get re-elected.Now is the time for “boots to the ground” to use the information we have compiled on ALEC members and ALEC “model legislation” to prove to others that ALEC members MUST be removed from public service at any and all levels.
ALEC just completed their four day conference where ALEC Corporations told your legislators what legislation they wanted to have passed and what legislation they did not want to have passed.
ALEC members are not serving the public – they are serving the ALEC corporations.It does not matter how ALEC or their members spin this story over the next couple months it is important for you – to remember and to talk about the following fact:
When was the last time YOU got to sit with your legislator for two or three days and tell your legislator what YOUR needs are and help your legislator write legislation that benefited YOU?
Your ALEC legislator does this multiple times a year with corporations – so when push come to shove – it is evident who your legislator is representing – the ALEC corporations.
Past members are important – because they may come up for a state or federal appointment.
Campaign reports – report campaigns – so someone may be on the list that did not win- but you can bet your boots they will try again.
ALEC members and those affiliated with ALEC in any manner
MUST NOT BE RE-ELECTED.
Without state and federal legislators ALEC will cease to exist and it will implode.
As a courtesy - please don't take credit for this list or post it anywhere on the web as your original work and research. This blog - in whole and part - is copyright protected.
And watch this news video from North Carolina on how other ALEC "model legislation" is going to screw the citizens of North Carolina - legislation introduced by ALEC legislators.
Do your own act of education! Send the links shown above to friends and family and educate them about ALEC.
