NORTHLANDS PINES HIGH SCHOOL -- MINI WALKOUT

NORTHLANDS PINES HIGH SCHOOL, Eagle River, Vilas County, WI
MIKE RITCHEE, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR
715-479-4473
http://www.npsd.k12.wi.us/

This afternoon (2/18/2011) I spoke to an administrator at Northland Pines High School and discussed events in Madison and Eagle River. There were a number of Northlands Pines teachers who called in “sick”. For this administrator, this is the first time he had ever experienced anything like this. And a number of students (about 75) walked out of fourth period block classes (Thursday?). Security cameras and some adults captured images that will be scrutinized. Students will experience some type of discipline, may be brought up at a future board meeting.

The administrator mentioned that another school also had some student protest / walkout.

Our administrators need to hear from parents and taxpayers and attend future board meetings. Please call the school and respectfully discuss your concerns with the administration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD9yUiRmZWw

Listen to Freedom Talk on Heartland Communications all week long for America’s Conservative Talk Radio Programming
Northwoods Patriots Talk Radio airs every Saturday – call in – 715-479-6511
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WISCONSIN DEMOCRAT SENATOR HOLPERIN FOUND IN ILLINOIS

VIDEO ON YOUTUBE SHOWS SENATOR HOLPERIN AND ANOTHER DRIVING AWAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxKk3DSW6Sk&feature=player_embedded

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ORGANIZING FOR AMERICA IS ORGANIZING IN MADISON

Contents below were in an e-mail forwarded by ORGANIZING FOR AMERICA

Organizing for America Plans Emergency Labor Rally in Madison
Dan Grandone, Organizing for America State/Local - Monday, February 14, 2011

MADISON, WI - We always knew Scott Walker would pursue a right-wing, anti-worker agenda. We didn't know it would be this extreme.At a time when most folks are still struggling to get back on their feet, Gov. Walker has asked the state legislature to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights. Under his plan, park rangers, teachers, and prison guards would no longer be able to fight back if the new Republican majority tries to slash their health benefits or pensions.But that's not even the most shocking part: The governor has also put the state National Guard on alert in case of "labor unrest."We can't -- and won't -- let Scott Walker's heavy-handed tactics scare us. This Tuesday and Wednesday, February 15th and 16th, volunteers will be attending rallies at the state capitol, put together by our organized labor allies. The vote could come as early as Wednesday, and we need to speak out now to show lawmakers in Madison that we're not only paying attention; we're fired up and ready to act.

Can you make it on Tuesday or Wednesday?

Here are the details:

What: Emergency rally for state workersWhere: Madison Masonic Temple301 Wisconsin AvenueMadison, WI 53703When: Tuesday and Wednesday, February 15th and 16thLegislative briefing at 10:00 a.m.State capitol rally at 12:00 p.m.Gov. Walker won't even talk to state workers about his proposal to strip them of their rights. He is ignoring Wisconsin voices today and asking for the power to drown them out permanently tomorrow.We're ready to do all we can to make sure that doesn't happen. OFA volunteers are going to fight for our friends with state jobs, our allies in organized labor, and the freedom of all Wisconsinites to organize their communities.Please attend the rally in Madison to stop Scott Walker:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/55c110f7/50625738/14768b82a/11882026/610669227/VEsF/Thanks,DanDan

GrandoneWisconsin State DirectorOrganizing for America

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Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm.... My Barack Obama

Emergency Lobby Days & Rallies (Protect Our Progress)

This week, there are two action days being held in Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday. Join OFA volunteers as we continue to move America forward by stopping Governor Scott Walker from taking Wisconsin back...in his effort to deny public employees their collective bargaining rights. We’re fired up and ready to go!

There will be legislative briefings both days at the Madison Masonic Temple at 10:00am followed by lobby visits to the State Capitol. The Rallies will be held at 12:00noon at King Street Capitol Entrance.

There will be limited busing available from Milwaukee, Racine, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Wausau, Green Bay, Manitowoc, Prairie du Chien, River Falls and Superior. For further transportation information, please visit http://wiafscme.org/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=1459bf12-9d73-4527-b059-45999bd653ce

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpzrvd/?override_wrapper_id=Cw3hs

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Field Trip! Teacher Takes High School Students to Union Protest; Students Don’t Know Why They’re There

Many of the hundreds of Madison East High School students didn’t know why their teachers brought them to the union protests at the Wisconsin Capitol Tuesday. But they knew they were just happy to be out of class. See this raw video from today’s government union rally in opposition to Governor Scott Walker’s budget.
(34 second video - 169 comments to date)

http://www.breitbart.tv/field-trip-teacher-takes-high-school-students-to-union-protest-students-dont-know-why-theyre-there/

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Wisconsin Protests: State Police Pursue Democratic Lawmakers Boycotting Vote
check out the video in the comments section

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/17/wisconsin-protests-scott-walker-police_n_824697.html

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February 17, 2011
DNC playing role in Wisconsin protests

The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America arm -- the remnant of the 2008 Obama campaign -- is playing an active role in organizing protests against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's attempt to strip most public employees of collective bargaining rights.
OfA, as the campaign group is known, has been criticized at times for staying out of local issues like same-sex marraige, but it's riding to the aide of the public sector unions who hoping to persuade some Republican legislators to oppose Walker's plan. And while Obama may have his difference with teachers unions, OfA's engagement with the fight -- and Obama's own clear stance against Walker -- mean that he's remaining loyal to key Democratic Party allies at what is, for them, a very dangerous moment.

OfA Wisconsin's field efforts include filling buses and building turnout for the rallies this week in Madison, organizing 15 rapid response phone banks urging supporters to call their state legislators, and working on planning and producing rallies, a Democratic Party official in Washington said.

The @OFA_WI twitter account has published 54 tweets promoting the rallies, which the group has also plugged on its blog.

"At a time when most folks are still struggling to get back on their feet, Gov. Walker has asked the state legislature to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights. Under his plan, park rangers, teachers, and prison guards would no longer be able to fight back if the new Republican majority tries to slash their health benefits or pensions," OfA Wisconsin State Director Dan Grandone wrote supporters in an email. "But that's not even the most shocking part: The governor has also put the state National Guard on alert in case of 'labor unrest.' We can't -- and won't -- let Scott Walker's heavy-handed tactics scare us. This Tuesday and Wednesday, February 15th and 16th, volunteers will be attending rallies at the state
He continued:

Gov. Walker won't even talk to state workers about his proposal to strip them of their rights. He is ignoring Wisconsin voices today and asking for the power to drown them out permanently tomorrow.

We're ready to do all we can to make sure that doesn't happen. OFA volunteers are going to fight for our friends with state jobs, our allies in organized labor, and the freedom of all Wisconsinites to organize their communities.

Comment section: What JournoList Ben and others in the LeftMedia don't dare show you is the actuality of the "demonstrations." The hate-filled signs comparing Governor Walker to Hitler. The piles of trash the demonstrators left behind. The videos of the high school students bused to the protests, who cheerfully admit they have no idea why their teachers told them to be there.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/DNC_playing_role_in_Wisconsin_protests.html
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Senate Dems stage walkout, in 'secure' location outside Capitol

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_01c093f0-3ac0-11e0-ba01-001cc4c002e0.html

Northwoods Patriots - Standing up for Faith, Family, Country - northwoodspatriotscomm@gmail.com

HOW THE MIDDLE CLASS BECAME THE UNDERCLASS

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/How-the-middle-class-became-cnnm-2876148381.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=8&asset=&ccode=

Northwoods Patriots - Standing up for Faith, Family, Country - northwoodspatriotscomm@gmail.com

LEGISLATORS DISCUSS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Five busses brought Tea Party Patriots to Madison 2/15/2011 for the Legislative Budget Committee hearing. According to news reports, thousands were in attendance. Wisconsin Eye recorded the event as well as quite a few other news organizations. Individuals from a number of tea party groups were allowed to present testimony, including Steve Decker, Kim Simac and James Maillette from the Northwoods Patriots. News reports mentioned events in Wisconsin Tuesday evening and will continue.

http://www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=16143 – CBS 58 News – 2/15/2011 – Events in Madison at the Wisconsin State budget committee hearing—article and video regarding bargaining rights for union employees.

http://www.wjfw.com/stories.html?sku=20110215185239 – WJFW NEWS: Budget Repair Bill and Collective Bargaining Limitations

http://www.youtube.com/user/RepRibble#p/a/u/0/BE9kjUd0rMM -- Groups Clash at Hearing on Controversial Budget Bill
Washington, DC –Rep. Reid Ribble participated today in the House Budget Committee Hearing questioning Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew on the President’s FY 2012 Budget. Below is a link to his questioning. “When all the adults in this room leave, when the cameras are gone and the television announcers go home, I believe there’s going to be a 5 year old sitting here holding the bill. I think that’s careless.” -Rep. Reid Ribble on responsible budgets

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am7 Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases. Ratified 12/15/1791. In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Listen to Freedom Talk on Heartland Communications all week long for America’s Conservative Talk Radio Programming
Northwoods Patriots Talk Radio airs every Saturday – call in – 715-479-6511
WERL AM 950 10 – 11 a.m. – the program also streams live over the internet.
http://www.starockdiversity.com/products.htm – Listen to the broadcast at your convenience during the week
http://northwoodspatriots.blogspot.com/ – Check the blogspot for recent postings
http://www.northwoodspatriots.com/ – Check us out – we’re now on Facebook
Kim Simac--northwoodspatriots@gmail.com

Northwoods Patriots - Standing up for Faith, Family, Country - northwoodspatriotscomm@gmail.com

WISCONSIN REPORTER -- PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ONLY CONTRIBUTE ONLY .6% FOR BENEFITS

Budget Deficit Bill Restricting Collective Bargaining Up for Committee Vote Tueday
February 14th, 2011 -- Wisconsin Reporter

http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/budget-deficit-bill-restricting-collective-bargaining-up-for-committee-vote-tueday

144 page PDF file -- Act about public employees
http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/February11/0211/0211walkerbudgetlrb.pdf

48-page analysis -- LEGISLATIVE FISCAL BUREAU REPORT
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/2011-13Bills/2011_02_14_budget%20Adjustment%20Legislation.pdf

Northwoods Patriots - Standing up for Faith, Family, Country - northwoodspatriotscomm@gmail.com

RESPONSES TO COMMON OBJECTIONS AGAINST PHOTO ID VOTING REFORM

The Wisconsin Patriot Coalition Reponds to common objections raised against Photo ID Voting Reform

1. Objection: There have been few convictions for voter fraud in Wisconsin. Voter ID is a “solution in search of a problem.”

Response: A small number of convictions for voter fraud does not mean that those convictions represent all fraudulent votes cast. Many types of voter fraud are simply difficult to detect and/or prove in a court of law. In fact, a report on the November 2004 election published by the Special Investigations Unit of the Milwaukee Police Department found numerous indications of fraud, including “more votes cast than voters recorded.”

Moreover, limited resources exist for investigating the numerous fraud reports that are lodged after any election. In many cases, this fact increases the difficulty of verifying credible reports of fraud, including people crossing state lines to vote. It also slows the process of prosecuting such crime where such action is possible. A photo ID requirement, while excluding no eligible Wisconsin voter, will help to ensure free, fair, and honest elections by reducing the opportunity for at least some types of voter fraud.

2. Objection: Voters cannot access Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices to acquire an ID.

Response: This objection seems to assume that all individuals without proper voting ID would need to present themselves at the DMV just prior to voting. In fact, this assumption would only hold true if SB 6 were implemented shortly before the 2011 spring elections. Should such an event occur, legislators are working to ensure that no legitimate voter would be excluded from the voting process.

In general, however, voters could present themselves at a DMV facility at any time during the year to obtain proper ID. DMV offices are located throughout the state and travel teams go to all but a few counties. Once acquired, a state-issued ID is valid for eight years, just like a driver’s license. Absentee balloting is another option if a trip to a DMV office once every eight years is not possible. SB 6 also provides for individuals in long-term care facilities, such as the elderly, to vote without a photo ID.

3. Objection: Over 10 percent of the population does not have the type of ID required by SB 6 and will therefore not be able to vote.

Response: Reputable sources don’t put the percentage anywhere near this high. In Wisconsin, most potential voters without a photo ID reside in long-term care facilities. Those living in such facilities will be covered by an exemption in SB 6 that provides for alternate ID verification.

A driver’s license or photo ID has become a necessity for everyday life. In fact, one can now do little without a photo ID—besides vote, that is. It must be presumed that the vast majority of legal residents possess a photo ID simply to conduct routine business. If they do not presently have a form of ID stipulated by SB 6, the free ID provision in SB 6 renders this objection essentially moot. Furthermore, legislators are working to ensure that should SB 6 be implemented just prior to 2011 spring elections, proper allowances would be made. See the response to Objection 2.

Recent rulings in Indiana would also seem to address this objection. In 2005, Indiana passed a photo ID law that became effective July 1, 2006. In 2010, nearly four years after the law’s implementation, the Indiana Supreme Court stated in an opinion upholding it that the plaintiffs had failed to identify a single individual prevented from voting by the law. Wisconsin legislators are making a concerted effort to use the Indiana legislation as a model so that our own voting reforms would withstand challenges of this nature.

4. Objection: The elderly and persons with disabilities will be disenfranchised.

Response: Absentee balloting is and will continue to be a convenient option for those unable to get to the polls. Again, individuals confined to long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, will be covered by an exception in SB 6. See the response to Objection 2.

5. Objection: African-Americans, Latinos and new American citizens are far less likely to have the forms of ID that SB 6 would require.

Response: This objection falsely attempts to paint minorities, in particular, as disenfranchised by a photo ID requirement. In fact, the lines of disenfranchisement should not be drawn along either economic or racial lines. The real issue at stake is the disenfranchisement of legitimate voters by illegitimate ones.

As noted in the response to Objection 3, a photo ID has become a basic necessity of everyday life. There is little the average citizen can now do without one. If such ID has not yet been obtained by a legitimate citizen/voter, then opportunity will exist for them to obtain such ID at no expense as covered in the response to Objection 2.

6. Objection: Voter ID laws costs too much to implement.

Response: One thing is certain: Doing nothing to ensure the integrity of Wisconsin’s elections is free. That is, until one considers cost from other angles. What about the cost of undermined public confidence in elections that always ensues when great risk of fraud exists? What about the potential fiscal and/or social costs of legislation that might be enacted by elected officials who illegitimately win election to public office and proceed to violate the will of the people?

Safeguarding elections is a form of insurance policy. An insurance policy doesn’t eliminate cost; rather, it takes certain risks into consideration and shields the policyholder from potentially higher costs that would be far more difficult to cover. It is wiser to spend the money on implementing photo ID now than it is to risk having to pay far greater costs later.

Most of the expense for implementing photo ID in Wisconsin would center on a onetime cost for issuing free IDs to a small percentage of citizens who do not already have them. Normally, these DMV-issued IDs would cost an individual $28. At this cost, producing a DMV-issued ID for a small segment of the population would certainly remain far less expensive than producing and issuing to all legal residents of voting age an additional, separate form of photo ID, useful solely for voting.

7. Objection: Just after a presidential election in which we saw historic turnout among young people, African-Americans and Latinos, some legislators want to reverse those advances.

Response: No evidence logically supports this concern. Legislators sponsoring SB 6 and those who support such reform simply believe in ensuring free, fair, and honest elections in which each legitimate voter gets one vote—no more, no less. Safeguarding such principles does not take anything away from anyone. Rather, adopting photo ID will help to ensure that the express will inherent in each voter’s ballot—regardless of the color, race, or creed of the voter— maintains its proper weight in an election.

8. Objection: Voter ID requirements will add substantial new burdens on election administrators and poll workers.

Response: Polls workers should already be asking a voter for their name and address. In fact, at a hearing on photo ID held by the Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections on January 26th, witnesses having experience working as poll workers or in conjunction with a county clerk’s office noted that photo ID would speed registration and confirmation processes. The greater issue is giving county clerks the time and tools necessary to implement changes and properly train poll workers.

9. Objection: Voter ID laws exacerbate low voter turnout.

Response: States with a photo ID requirement have demonstrated no reduction in voter turnout. To the contrary, according to at least two studies, photo ID requirements may increase voting participation.

Northwoods Patriots - Standing up for Faith, Family, Country - northwoodspatriotscomm@gmail.com