Hear that? That low rumbling sound? Is that what I think it is?
Why, YES! It's the state government of Wisconsin, deciding they're not going to let bullies and their intimidation tactics decide whether or not Governor Scott Walker is recalled.
A press release issued yesterday by the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board indicates the day of "government by fear and intimidation" is over.
The Government Accountability Board and the Wisconsin Department of Justice are working together with district attorneys around the state to investigate allegations of recall petition fraud and acts of aggression by or against people involved in the recall process.
Today, G.A.B. and D.O.J. staff conducted a webinar for district attorney’s offices on investigating recall-related complaints. Under Wisconsin law, the G.A.B., the D.O.J. Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), local law enforcement and district attorneys may investigate alleged election crimes, but prosecution is the responsibility of district attorneys. The D.O.J. will assist district attorneys as needed in appropriate cases.
The G.A.B. and the D.O.J. have set up a joint clearinghouse for recall-related complaints to ensure all complaints are reviewed and assigned to the proper local jurisdiction. Complaints should be directed to the G.A.B.
It would behoove the bullies, the mockers, the stalkers, the serial harassers at groups like Operation Burn Notice to sit up and pay attention to this. This is not just some writer with the Examiner and its 70,000 other Examiners saying this. This is not Bill Schmalfeldt saying this. This is not "Mr. Jiggly" or "Put On Your Porky Face" saying this. This is not the person the OBN thugs and goons directed personal insult on top of personal insult saying this.
This is the state government of Wisconsin saying this. The goons at OBN have no reason whatsoever to fear me. Why should they? I'm just one guy.
What they have to be afraid of is an outraged citizenry that is tired of these storm trooper, gutter tactics, making people afraid to report because they fear being the subject of mockery, stalking, harassment, intimidation or threats of violence -- all of which I have personally experienced from these goons in the past 24 hours.
“A passionate recall campaign does not give people license to break the law,” Kennedy said.
“We have laws to protect the integrity of the election process and we stand ready to enforce those laws,” Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said.
It is a Class I felony in Wisconsin to destroy, deface or otherwise commit fraud with a recall petition, punishable by up to 3½ years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Now, instead of bowing to the schoolyard bullies, you have a phone number to call. You have a website to visit. In fact, I think I'll visit that website as soon as I post this column.
Persons with complaints about recall petition activities may file a complaint at the G.A.B. website: http://gab.wi.gov/..., or may call 608-261-2028.
There are more important things to me than a hobby that happens to pay a bit of money, gentle reader. My personal integrity is one of those thing. The welfare of the people of the United States is another. And the right to live without fear, the right to express your opinion without being torn to pieces by bullies is another. If these are the last words you read from me on the Examiner, then I have one final thing to say.
THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY BILL SCHMALFELDT ARE HIS ALONE AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE CORPORATE ENTITY KNOWN AS "THE EXAMINER" OR ITS 70,000 OTHER CORRESPONDENTS. THEY ARE MY OPINIONS, MY OPINIONS ALONE.
So sue ME, if you have the sack for it. And bring a lunch. And be ready to explain all the personal defamation, scrubbed but screencapped by yours truly, aimed in my direction.
By the way, I notice the Operation Burn Notice Facebook page is down -- again -- like it is every early morning. Has Facebook finally decided to act upon its own Terms of Service? Or is OBN like some sort of reverse vampire, rising in the morning to suck the brains out of its followers? We shall see.
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Now it's up to you, gentle reader. Do you support the right of a single voice to stand against this sort of harassment? Then join me by hitting "subscribe" next to my photo under the headline. Then let me know you're on board by visiting me on Twitter or Facebook or my personal e-mail. And thank you for your support in what has been an incredibly difficult 24 hours.