Mary Buestrin

Top 10 State Government Stories of 2023

A year filled with surprises and big stories, led by the election of Janet Protasiewicz to Supreme Court.

Wisconsin a Major Front in War Against Democracy

Report identifies Wisconsin and North Carolina as leaders in this ugly movement.

Trial For Wisconsin’s Fake Electors Scheduled For Fall 2024

Jury trial would start two months before 2024 presidential election.

Kaul Should Charge Ron Johnson, 10 Fake Electors

Illegal efforts to overturn 2020 election should be prosecuted by Attorney General.

Report Calls For Criminally Charging State’s Fake Electors

Democracy protection group, Just Security, says 10 Republicans committed felonies.

Democrats File Suit Against State Republicans Who Posed As Electors

Lawsuit argues actions of false presidential electors led to Jan. 6 insurrection.

Group Pushes Dane County DA To Prosecute False Electors

'All 10 convened in Dane County to carry out their unlawful plan,’ Law Forward writes.

Imposter Electors Tied to Fitzgerald, Kleefisch

And Republican AG candidate Adam Jarchow. Democrats say it disqualifies them from holding office.

Fake Electors are Real Associates of Rebecca Kleefisch

Individuals Who Participated in Wisconsin Election Sabotage Scheme Advising Gubernatorial Candidate Kleefisch

Kaul Says Feds Should Prosecute State’s GOP False Electors

10 Wisconsin Republicans sent phony electoral ballots for Trump to Congress.

Will 10 Wisconsin Republicans Who Tried to Hijack 2020 Election Be Punished?

They submitted imposter Electoral College ballots to Congress.

Wisconsin’s January 6 Collaborators

25 Republicans who sought to overturn a legal election.

WisGOP Thanks Mary Buestrin for Decades of Service, Elects New National Committeeman and First Vice Chairman

False Electors Were GOP Campaign Donors

Republican insiders accused of election fraud gave $14,000 to state candidates.

10 Republicans Accused of Voter Fraud 

Meet the folks who wanted to overturn Wisconsin’s election. Legal complaint says they committed crimes.

Fraudulent Electors Convene to Cast State’s Electoral Votes Contrary to Popular Vote and State Statutes, Law Forward Seeks Accountability

Rebecca Kleefisch Will Run for Governor

Former Lt. Governor hasn’t announced, but is clearly organizing for 2022 campaign.

8 Reasons Wisconsin Has National GOP Clout

Few states have such power in Republican presidential politics.

Wisconsin’s Republican Kingmakers

They are playing key roles in nominating process, and are out to avoid mistakes of 2012 -- and help Walker.

Lautenschlager’s Mess

Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager’s drunk driving arrest last week removes her from behind the wheel of her state-owned vehicle for a year, and puts Governor Jim Doyle in the driver’s seat. The two had squabbled, privately, over terms of the Governor’s jobs bill, with Lautenschlager threatening to use her authority to see that the law comply with the state’s environmental regulations, which she intimated it did not. This sort of independent action by an attorney general is not new in Wisconsin. Doyle was the chief practitioner of it, but then again, he was a Democrat, and the Governor at the time was a Republican. The press has made note that Doyle suggests Lautenschlager forgo some of her pay as a sort of penance for her indiscretion, a matter that remains unresolved at this time. Doyle also suggested that Lautenschlager consider entering a program to treat problem drinkers. He said that he had a number of friends who had been in a similar situation and that the treatment had helped them. In fact, the public admission of guilt and responsibility (which Lautenschlager made) is usually accompanied these days with a prompt acknowledgement that a problem exists. The subject then usually promptly enters a treatment program and completes it, after which the matter is forgotten. Lautenschlager has not made that admission thus far, which leaves her in the position of either not having a “problem” or being “in denial” of it. It does leave Doyle high and dry, however, and much less likely to face interference in his plans from that peskiest of all politicians – an ambitious Attorney General. Walker at the War Memorial County Executive Scott Walker welcomed about 100 well-clad guests to a fundraiser February 26th at the War Memorial Center. The strictly upper-crust affair was a Republican-type fundraiser, which meant that hard liquor was consumed (in moderation) and beer, for the most part, was ignored. For those fans of the frothy stuff, Walker offered Miller products and Heineken. Food was by Ellen’s Prestige Catering, and included strolling waiters, another classy touch. Menu items included spinach somethings, meat and melted cheese on sandwich rounds, wrapped up little salmon tidbits, an entirely unsuccessful raspberry-brie tart, platters of some kind of 21st century sandwich product along with perfectly delicious fruit. The event was unmarred by public oratory, but was enhanced by an A-list of locals practicing up for the next time Bush is in town. Among the exalted: George Dalton, Dennis Kuester (on crutches), Michael Cudahy, mourning the recent death of Daniel Urban Kiley, creator of the $4 million Cudahy garden outside the adjacent Milwaukee Art Museum, Fred Luber, Tim Hoeksma, Carol Skornicka, John Finerty, Jim Weichmann, Joe Rice, Mary Buestrin, Corey Hoze and developer Mark Irgens. Hoze has secured speaker Dennis Hastert to appear at a $2000 fundraiser on his hopeless behalf in his upcoming congressional campaign. That’s rich. Marvin Pratt popped in and worked the crowd for about 20 minutes before his cop told him it was time to […]