Yesterday, news broke that a new organization formed in Wisconsin in response to the draconian policies of Governer Scott Walker and his never-ending string of lies. He has been stating through his campaign fundraising letters and to any media outlet willing to loft softball questions into his wheel house that he is up against "Union-paid protesters."
This group of unorganized, unpaid protesters was formed under the banner of The Federation of Unorganized, Concerned Kids: Young, Old and Unpaid; Screaming, Cursing, Outraged and Tired of Tyranny Yesterday. As its founder and President, I was thrilled to see such an overwhelming number of applications and pledges of union membership from not only my fellow Badgers, but also from interested parties stretching across our great nation. Our support team was a little unprepared for the mess of paperwork and Solidarity-induced fanmail that was to follow, but as I reminded them last night and will continue to remind them: A LOT of people hate Scott Walker . They are more than happy to protest his every appearance when he pops his head out of the underground tunnels surrounding the Madison Capitol building to go out foraging on one of his many (usually out-of-state) crooked,conservative, corporate, campaign cash grabs. Walker has been and continues to be so brazen in his efforts, that before long, I anticipate branches of FUCK YOU SCOTTY being established en masse, stretching from Hawaii to Florida.
Well, there seems to be little primary election going on in Wisconsin tomorrow to determine who will meet head-to-head in the ultimate Recall showdown on June 5th. Based on the far-reaching response we received upon our foundation last night, I consider it more-than-appropriate to throw our weight around in the race. I feel that we have gained a healthy amount of respect on the political scene and with the People Power we have behind us, our union is assuredly a force to be reckoned with. Union endorsements have long been considered important acquisitions for those running for political office, and this gubernatorial race has been no exception. Well, now it's our turn. Or should I say MY turn. We may be the union of the People...but when it comes to Wisconsin political endorsements, I rule with an Ironclad, Middle Finger-raised Solidarity Fist!!
Arthur Kohl-Riggs has become a prominent fixture as a citizen journalist and activist around Wisconsin over the last year. Kohl-Riggs has filmed over 150 short Youtube videos highlighting the Shit Scott Walker Is Doing To Our State, the activities of his legislative rubber-stamping cronies, and just straight up protesting their asses. As a member of the Chronic Capitol Protesters (CCP) that have been so critical to shedding light on the activities inside of Fitzwalkerstan and serving as a reminder that our movement is not going away, Kohl-Riggs was happily welcomed into our union as a Charter member last night. In the earliest days of the Wisconsin Uprising, Arthur Kohl-Riggs walked over to the Capitol upon hearing that the public hearing on the disastrous Budget Repair Bill had been prematurely shut down by "Republican" Assemblyman Robin Vos, with hours of testimony still queued to be provided. Kohl-Riggs entered the Capitol building on Tuesday, Feburary 15th, 2011 and slept there every night until the last remaining fifty or so individuals holding down the Capitol Occupation were escorted from the building on March 3rd, 2011.
When there were unconscionable votes going down in the Wisconsin legislature to take rights away from the citizens of Wisconsin, Arthur was there. When there were public hearings to let members of the public voice their opinions on the lack of openness in the process, Arthur was there. When there were rallies to attend, defenses of the First Amendment to be made, Wall Streets to be Occupied and the endless amount of Scott Walker appearances to vehemently protest, Arthur was most definitely there. As an unorganized, unpaid protester of Scott Walker, Art's credentials are second-to-none and his reputation is of the highest order.
Arthur Kohl-Riggs has campaigned over the last five weeks as strenuously as any candidate can possibly campaign. Kohl-Riggs has responded to every radio and television interview request, published an op-ed on why he should be elected in the primary, held an all-day online Ask Me Anything forum on Reddit, attended candidate forums, and travelled the state speaking to local groups and with anyone who approached him. All along, he has continued to emphasize the disaster that Scott Walker has been to our state, while speaking with anybody who bothered to ask him a question. He even found time to stick to his roots by attending Solidarity Sing Alongs and taking a little time to protest multiple Walker appearances in both Wisconsin, as well as in full Abe Lincoln garb in the 16th President's hometown of Springfield, IL. Not to mention, he filmed a badass television commercial.
His candidacy was intended to highlight how radical and extreme Walker's policies and actions have been, even by traditional Republican standards, and showing that they do not represent the values of the party of Abraham Lincoln founded as a pro-labor, abolitionist party in Ripon, Wisconsin in 1854. Arthur has kept the heat on Walker, pointing out the lies in his rhetoric and the cowardice he exemplifies with every action taken that intentionally ignores the public's interest. Kohl-Riggs has run a campaign intended to bring clean elections and the idea of open, honest governance back into the process. He has refused to solicit out-of-state donations and publicly stated that if he received any individual donations totalling over $100, he would donate the excess amount to charity. He has pushed hard to bring back the shockingly refreshing notion of an actual representative democracy, one in which the people who are affected most by proposed policies will not only be encouraged to speak out, but actually have those heartfelt words taken into account by their elected officials. He has campaigned on the quaint suggestion that if hundreds of thousands of people show up at your office to let you know how devastating your policies are to their state...maybe you should listen.
Through it all, Arthur Kohl-Riggs brought humor to the equation, kept a smile on his face and put thousands of unabashed smiles on the faces of Wisconsinites. He showed that while politics may be a knock-down, drag-out world that takes itself far too seriously, you can rise above the fray to spread a message of hope and Solidarity...and perhaps even enjoy yourself along the journey.
So while there are four more-than-capable candidates running for Governor of Wisconsin tomorrow in the Democratic primary, for us, the choice is clear. The Federation for the Unorganized, Concerned Kids: Young, Old and Unpaid; Screaming, Cursing, Outraged and Tired of Tyranny Yesterday is proud to endorse progressive, Lincoln-La Follette Republican candidate Arthur Kohl-Riggs in tomorrow's Wisconsin recall primary election for Governor. This is one man our motley crew of thugs knows will NEVER let us down. We figure, let's take a crack at Walker and vote him out BEFORE he ever gets to the general election on June 5th!!
So on Tuesday, May 8th, Vote Art for Gov: the Real Republican.
