Said threats being made by one Graeme Zielinski, communications director (his title will be funny in a moment; trust me) for the Wisconsin Democratic party – and my, but did he ever communicate! And more than Zielinski really intended to, methinks.
Background information: there’s a site called WisconsinReporter.com. They apparently cover Wisconsin local politics – of which there’s been quite a bit lately that’s been of interest on a national level, of course – and earlier in the week the site reported on an interview that Governor Scott Walker did with the Heritage Foundation. In the process of that article, WisconsinReporter.com noted two things:
- Wisconsin reportedly added 9,500 jobs in June. This is technically the same number as half the net jobs created nationwide in the US (direct comparisons are really sort of… imprecise).
- And that Zielinski was – in the process of using language that, while not actually profane, was not exactly professional – touting Illinois’s job-creation credentials, despite the fact that Illinois reportedly lost a net 18,900 jobs in June.
So far, so… not really that much of a thing, is it? Certainly not something that would spark a threat of going after press credentials. At least, not something that would spark a threat that would be made by normal people.
Alas, it would seem that the Democratic party is undergoing a good deal of stress lately (Glenn Reynolds [H/T] calls it ‘cracking up’, which sounds about right); because Zielinski went, to be charitable about it, a little crazy at this point. After castigating the author of the piece and complaining that the original article made him and his party “look even smaller” in the process, Graeme Zielinski went on to demonstrate that he was capable of making him and his party look smaller all on his own, via a direct threat:
What happens next is that I contact the publishers and editors of the papers that publish you as ‘unbiased,’ and let them know our deep concern about the obvious bias that permeates your entire operation. Then, we let our activists know which papers publish you, and they write the publisher and editor. Then, we contact the Capitol press pool and let them know about our concerns about your credentialing. And we continue on until you actually admit to the truth of your operation.
Mark Tapscott sums it up best: “Zeilinski’s email could easily be read as a threat to organize union demonstrators against Wisconsin newspapers that publish reporting provided to them by WisconsinReporter.com’s staff. And his vow to go after WisconsinReporter.com’s capitol media credentials is an obvious effort to silence a news organization with which he disagrees.” Which will of course backfire: the executive director for the Wisconsin News Association has already categorized this threat as ‘out there,’ and I suspect that the clock is already ticking on the inevitable retraction.
Which will probably be highly petulant, ungracious, and whiny, but then, that’s the Wisconsin Democratic party for you.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
PS: Oh, almost forgot. As for why I used the word ‘illiterate’ in the title: the email that Zielinski sent had at least one howler that only avoids being a Freudian slip because I don’t actually believe that the author has a high enough command of Standard English. Said howler:
“In your Walker water-carrying article, you made all sorts of arguments for Scott Walker, then used a snippet of my quote, and then used apposite information to debate me. IN MY OWN QUOTE. I’ve never seen that before in my life,” Zielinski wrote in the email to the staff writer.
I assume that the fellow meant ‘opposite;’ as it happens, ‘apposite‘ means ‘highly pertinent.’ I know, I know: Zielinski spell-checked his email. That’s not enough.
PPS: Good job getting this story out into wider circulation, Zielinski. Particularly since people outside of Republican circles are lining up to politely ask you what the heck your party thought that it was trying to accomplish, here.
Moe Lane
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Jeff Emanuel
Crow.
JX12 (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 3:46AM EDT (link)It’s what’s for dinner.
Crow
standingonthewall Sunday, August 7th at 8:10AM EDT (link)Seems to me that crow may be for dessert. I’m thinking it was foot for dinner.
welcome to the new civility
Maggi Cook (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 8:40AM EDT (link)again
Telling the truth in a time of universal deceit is a revolutionary act.
Nothing to see here
Duke Sunday, August 7th at 8:49AM EDT (link)While to the casual observer this particular incident may seem really “out there,” for those of us who live in Wisconsin it’s just business as usual. The DemocRats in our state have long been the lap puppies of da union, and have a legacy of pandering politicians that protects them and their leftist aparatchicks from what we conservatives see as “hope and change.” That’s all changed now.
Gov. Scott Walker, together with the Republican (mostly conservative Republican) state legislature have grabbed the snake by its tail and are currently swinging it around over their heads in search of a large tree to whack it against. I think the current spate of recall elections, being held against all but one or two Republicans eligible for recall, may well be that tree. We find out next Tuesday the 9th, and a week later on the 16th. We can all but end the DemocRat Party in Wisconsin if we gain seats in the legislature. Losing control of the State Senate will be the fatal bite of this despicable snake! The leftist cockroaches know it as well as we do, and have poured over $30 million into these recalls.
Redstate, and Moe in particular, have certainly been a beacon of hope for the real change we need in Wisconsin, and ultimately throughout our nation. Let’s just all hope and pray that this month’s activity in Wisconsin carries through to the next battle in November of 2012. Our nation’s future hangs in the balance!
It’s not about a purge. It’s about an insurrection.
Some attacked by the recall need money
renny (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 11:14AM EDT (link)You should hold a money bomb.
Yes, the recall is the classic canary in the mind
civil truth (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 8:26PM EDT (link)The outcome will set the trend for the next 15 months regarding the push-back against unions (and union money) at the state level. And we know our nation’s future as a free nation will be at stake in the 2012 election.
The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis
Shades of Fox News, the network that doesn't do news
johnt Sunday, August 7th at 9:15AM EDT (link)News has to be agreeable otherwise it is not news. Adolf Hitler would agree, as would any marauding, raging statist goon frustrated at his inability to control and hopefully ruin the lives of others.
Not so slowly we are returning to a savage state,
“a man’s admiration for absolute government is proportinate to the contempt he feels for those around him”. Tocqueville
By his side's standards, he's a terrorist.
Bill S (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 10:05AM EDT (link)Why, he’s no worse than Al Qaeda or Hamas or any of those other groups.
Right? RIGHT?
(looks like WordPress devoured my sarcasm tag, so … you get the picture)
“It’s such a fine line between stupid, and clever.” – David St. Hubbins
There is a pattern developing among the left of
throwback59 Sunday, August 7th at 11:21AM EDT (link)pressuring news organizations not to carry opposing views. First John Effen Kerry says the Tea Party should not be covered, now this.
Actually, the pattern seems to be an attempt to shut down any means of dissent
Next93 (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 7:47PM EDT (link)They use McCain/Feingold like a cudgel, they go after any corporation that funds an organization related to people who disagree with gay rights they pass “hate crimes” and “anti bullying” legislation that are thinly veiled attempts to outlaw political incorrectness.
I think that once you’ve bought into the notion that the government’s monopoly on violence can and should be used to “take care of people”, it’s not that long a leap to using that power to stifle the counter-revolutionaries.
Obama was The One in 2008.
He’ll be a BIGGER one in 2012.
The left is always hinky with numbers
renny (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 11:22AM EDT (link)In 2008, o claimed he had registered over 2,000,000 new voters. He climed 700,000 of them in OH. When the vote was over, o won by 200,000 and the other 500,000 had somehow evaporated.
The 117,000 new jobs claimed for July are made up with 50,000 of “new business” the Lab. Dept always assumes are being created each month. That’s why eventually, all of the employ. numbers are readjusted down.
Next, we will hear an ACORN clone has registered a new 100,000 in NV or NC or HW for 2012. They are lies meant to suppress Rep. votes, just as Dan Rather in 2000 announced for an hour that the FL vote was closed when the panhandle was open that entire hour.
not many math requirements in the "meathead major" degree programs
Next93 (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 7:49PM EDT (link)N/T
Obama was The One in 2008.
He’ll be a BIGGER one in 2012.
Let them reap what they sow...
anotherindyfilmguy (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 1:17PM EDT (link)Turn on the press and get the press to turn on you…
Razz Etc!
“Best Poker book written ever!!!” – Author’s unbiased opinion…
You what to remember which party, and which state...
JimmyGee (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 3:30PM EDT (link)We are talking about here. Democrats and Wisconsin. Nothing will happen. We just had a Hate-Crime based riot of at all places, Wisconsin State Fair! It was clearly a large group of black individuals seeking out and attacking white people. The mainstream media here tried their best to “Omit” the fact that it was blacks that was doing the rioting.
Furthermore, all the millions (3+ MILLION dollars) in damage that was done to our state capital by the socialist/democratic demonstrators!
Sorry, as much as I would like an apology, I would not hold your breath. In fact, with the upcoming recall elections, it is only going to get worse. After all this is what demorats know, this is all they know. They cannot win on ideas, so they have to resort to thug tactics. Hang on folks, it going to be a bumpy ride.
Jimmy Gee
“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon, we must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy.”
Professor Albus Dumbledore,
from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
spell checker
jsbrodhead Sunday, August 7th at 3:54PM EDT (link)I sometimes think it would be good if people had access to a spell-checker/thesaurus, which allowed for “Grade Level” selection.
If we attempt to exceed our grade level, simpler words would be recommended. (This would be apposite for when we happen to be harassing Proggys.)
Oh, maybe we need a Normal to Elitist mode too, for times when flinging crap in the direction of Proggys, is more for fun and to make a point.
any on ground reports
proudgop (Diary) Sunday, August 7th at 8:42PM EDT (link)I am here in NYC and have no idea what I should be doing to help. I hear a lot noise the Dems think they will win 3 plus seats