...that a similar case to the one in Wisconsin I described above is also happening in Michigan. I don't know any details yet, but it appears to be another case of a lame duck legislature acting to curtail and deny rights and powers to the opposition party that has just defeated them at the polls. This isn't just a Wisconsin thing, I suspect we're going to start seeing this kind of action wherever Republicans lose an election, and, of course, it is only a matter of time before the Dems respond in kind.

A related incident seems to be occurring in Florida. As you may very well be aware, there was a lot of controversy in Broward County over alleged electoral problems during the midterms. Republicans made accusations of voter fraud (with no evidence, of course) in three very close elections, (Governor, US Senate, and Agriculture Commissioner) as well as allegations of incompetence aimed at the Broward County Supervisor of Election. The SOE (a Democrat) has since resigned her position, effective in January. Although the Republican candidates in two of these contests won by slim margins after recounts, the allegations continue. Lame-duck (due to term limits) Gov Scott(R) barely defeated Sen Nelson(D)in the race for US Senate, and the Republican replacement for Scott narrowly edged out his Democratic opponent in the Governor's race.

In the few weeks remaining to him as Governor, Scott has decided to bring charges and investigate the Broward Supervisor of Elections, even though she has declared her intention to retire. This means her pension and reputation is now threatened, and she is vulnerable to criminal prosecution or other legal or civil action.

I know the Broward Supervisor personally, and I am convinced of her competence and integrity, but I have no evidence to formally support her case and I make no claims as to her guilt or innocence here. However, the third contested race in this electoral cycle was won by a Liberal Democrat (Agriculture Commissioner)and in Florida that is a VERY critical office. Besides the importance of agriculture in the State economy, and the powerful Conservative Ag lobbies in Tallahassee, the Ag Comish also oversees the Concealed Firearms Carry Permit process, which has lately come under attack because CC applications have NOT been forwarded to the Fed for background checks (Yep. the CC Permit is a racket to raise money and see to it rich rednecks get gun permits and poor blacks don't.) The new commissioner has vowed to review and reform the entire gun permitting process and the NRA is having fits as a result. Although she survived the recounts, her position is now threatened should the elections be revisited.