Milwaukee Rally TODAY 12 noon Cathedral Square: Recall Ament

the crow

[the crow]

If you have missed listening to Sykes/Wagner/Belling, the Ament & crony pension grab has legs. The rally was mentioned by Sykes on the radio, and the Brown Deer people will be there. This is the time to organize and coordinate.

We have a chance to pull this off and restore honest government to MKE. It could be our last chance. BE THERE!

[johniegrad]

I'm sure that everyone locally understands your post. But for those of us elsewhere, there is no information in it.

[republicandiva]

In a nutshell: Milwaukee County Exec. Tom Ament and cronies on the County Board passed a pension plan that will make some of them millionaires (of course on the backs of the taxpayers) when they retire. A recall effort has begun!

[republicandiva]

"when they retire" More accurately, as soon as they leave (or are voted out of) office.

[the crow]

FYI. Remember the Bush rallies. Gotta find my megaphone!

[johniegrad]

Thanks for the explanation. Hope all is well at the flea market and 7 Mile Road.

[the crow]

bump

[republicandiva]

Hello there. The 7-mile fair is going strong this weekend. Too bad you're not still in the area - things are "exciting" around here right now.

Included in the "pension grab" is the Milwaukee District Attorney, who has basically refused (not enough time and resources, so he claims) to prosecute voter fraud from the 2000 election.

Anybody over there going to miss Dennis Green?

[randog]

There was a county commissioner in my area that pulled this same stunt several years ago. He was well respected in the community, having done a lot of good work for the county and city. Then, in his last term in office, he and his buddies passed ridiculous retirement packages for themselves. There was public uproar, of course, and the measure was rescinded but not before the commissioner and his cronies got their golden retirement package.

The sad part about the whole incident is that this commissioner did so much good work and was well respected up to the very end of his public career but the only thing people remember him for is his final act of greed. He had a large county park named after him while he was still in office, usually an honor reserved for previous deceased public servants. Part of the public uproar over his final act was a successful petition to change the name of the park. What a sad legacy.

[T. P. Pole]

It is a strange one. Over a year ago, the county board approved a pension plan that gave them a lump sum payout when they retire (or leave, or are voted out), on top of their normal monthly pension. Ament, the county executive (top guy) is getting something in the range of 2 million dollars.

Last October or so, a local Drudge-type guy was checking out things and discovered this. He put it on his web page. Folks like us printed it and passed it around, but it never grew legs.

For some reason, last week the local birdcage liner (Journal Sentinal) "discovered" the problem. They have been on it nearly every day since with strong editorials calling for "somebody" to look into it (hmmm, maybe they should).

Ament was interviewed about this. He said he didn't know what he was signing. You know, I thought that was what they are susposed to do, you know, like, be aware of the laws they sign. You would think that would be the bare minimum for their job.

A recall effort have been launched. We need something like 75,000 signers.

The local talk radio guys have gotten ahold of this. Belling and Sykes. They are pretty much calling for his head.

That's about it. I haven't been following it too closely, so I may be off in some of my detail. Feel free to correct me as needed.

[T. P. Pole]

I had an idea for a sign.

On one side:

"I didn't
know what I
was signing"
SHAME ON YOU

On the other side:

"I didn't
know what I
was signing"
SHAME ON YOU

I won't be able to make this myself, so if anybody wants it it is their's.

[republicandiva]

That's unfortunate about your commissioner - greed just seems to get the better of people, particularly those in positions of power. That is a sad end to a career!

However, in the case of these Milwaukee County elected officials, I'm hard-pressed to cite examples of their "goodworks". IMHO, these are crooks that should have been voted out long ago. Hopefully with the efforts of "the crow" and others organizing the recall (a group of irrate seniors were first to get the ball rolling) there will finally be an opportunity to clean house.

[freemama]

With you in spirit today! Been following this mess and it needs exposure, which Belling and Sykes did, and now it needs citizen action. Go get 'em!

[T'wit]

> Too bad you're not still in the area - things are "exciting" around here right now.

Heavy snow up north. How is your weather?

[LouD]

I was hoping I could make it, but unfortunately I have another obligation I can't get out of.

Give them hell for me!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Good luck. Milwaukee County is a cesspool of socialism & corruption, if Mayor John Norquist can survive a sex-scandal and making a Labor Day comment about Milwaukee's "great socialist history" then you guys got a long fight ahead of you....

Ed Thompson 2002

[Salvation]

Don't forget the bullhorns!

[PLD70]

Argh, I'm not going to be able to make it!

I hope that someone keeps and posts notes and/or any links for us :)

[johniegrad]

Anybody over there going to miss Dennis Green?

Who?