NEWSELECTIONS

Wisconsin residents were stunned last week when a "clerical error" dropped more than 14,000 new votes into a heated Supreme Court election, changing the results in favor of the Republican incumbent.

Now, Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin and others want a federal investigation into the matter.

The race between incumbent Republican David Prosser and challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg and was seen by many as a referendum on Republican Governor Scott Walker's first months in office. Walker sparked the largest protests in state history when he announced he would  "fix" an $137 million budget shortfall by eliminating collective bargaining rights for public workers - a controversial measure that will probably be heard by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Kloppenburg, if elected, would likely shift the court's 4-3 conservative majority.

But many are questioning the sudden appearance of over 14,000 votes in such a highly partisan and critical election.

This week, Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg pulled off the unthinkable when she defeated incumbent Republican judge David Prosser by 204 votes of almost 1.5 million cast.

The race was hotly partisan and seen by many as a referendum on Republican Governor Scott Walker's first months in office. Walker sparked the largest protests in state history when he announced he would  "fix" an $137 million budget shortfall by eliminating collective bargaining rights for public workers -- a controversial measure that will probably be heard by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Kloppenburg, if elected, would likely shift the court's 4-3 conservative majority.

But suddenly, less than two days after Kloppenburg declared victory, an elections clerk in Waukesha County, a solidly Republican district, shocked the state when she claimed that she "failed to save" 14,315 votes on her computer. The new ballots put Prosser ahead by 7,500 votes.

While massive protests hold the state's attention, Wisconsin Republicans are advancing voting laws that could disenfranchise thousands of the state's poor and minority voters.

This week, with Democratic Senators still in hiding to prevent a vote on Gov. Scott Walker's plan to bust public sector unions, unopposed Republicans advanced Senate Bill 6, a law that would require voters to show ID at the polls.

If passed, SB-6 could be the most restrictive voter ID law in the nation.

Two weeks ago Gigi and Mahmoud, two young Egyptian street activists and Change.org members, called on people all over the world to join their campaign for democracy in Egypt. You answered their call, along with tens of thousands of others from more than 120 countries.

Now we have incredible news: Gigi, Mahmoud and the “Peoples Revolution” have won! Minutes ago Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, handing power over to a military-led transitional government which will run the country until elections take place in a few months. In just 18 days, a coalition of Muslims and Christians, young, old, rich and poor came together to bring down a dictatorship of 30 years.

Earlier today Gigi and Mahmoud, two young Egyptian street activists and Change.org members, called on all of us to re-up the international pressure and join their campaign for democracy in Egypt.

Many of you answered their call, along with tens of thousands of others from more than 120 countries.

As the day progressed, we started to hear rumors that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was going to resign within hours.

“The people are celebrating everywhere,” Mahmoud told us over the phone. “They’re chanting, they’re jumping up and down, we’re just ecstatic!”

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, has been under a state of emergency for 43 years and run by a dictator for 30.

The government censors the media, bans all demonstrations, forbids the formation of any political parties or organizations and detain citizens indefinitely without charge. Corruption is rife, the judiciary is weak and police brutality is so common it is barely reported anymore.

Six days ago, Egyptians said 'enough', and millions took to the streets all over the country. We've been compiling photos of women in the Egyptian protests from across the net. Click here to view the slideshow.

Last week, the floodlights were turned on Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Common Cause charged both with potential conflicts of interest in the landmark Citizens United case last year. The organization asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether the decision should be vacated.

The case, which allowed corporations and unions unprecedented spending in elections, was decided by a 5-4 vote and has led to an avalanche of undisclosed outside money into electoral politics. Outside groups spent $450 million on the 2010 midterm elections. At least $126 million of that came from undisclosed donors. This lack of transparency was made possible by Citizens United.

As the New Year came upon us, many took part in the time-honored tradition of making resolutions.

There are the standard resolutions to finally lose that weight, quit smoking, or tackle that project you have been putting off for years. Some of us might even resolve to fulfill our resolution we so miserably failed at last year. These are all worthy, if unimaginative, goals to set for ourselves.

But as we make our way into a new decade, I challenge you to make a New Year's resolution in which your own betterment is not the focus... This year, make a resolution for peace.

STAND, a student project of the Genocide Intervention Network, suggests that this year you make a New Year Conflict Resolution. After the referendum on independence for southern Sudan, which will most likely split Africa’s largest country in two, many fear that another civil war is imminent. What can we do to help ensure a peaceful transition in Sudan?

It seems that Iowa's newly elected Republican Governor, Terry Branstad, couldn't wait to disenfranchise an entire class of Iowa voters.

Just hours after being sworn into office earlier this month, Branstad wasted no time in turning back the legislative clock and issuing an Executive Order that snatched away hard-won voting rights from ex-felons.

So much for Iowa living up to its state motto: "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain." Clearly, in the Hawkeye State the terms "our" and "we" don't encompass the formerly incarcerated.

Branstad's Executive Order 70 rescinds a 2005 law that removed the requirement that individuals convicted of a felony or aggravated misdemeanor apply to the governor's office to have their right to vote restored once they completed their sentences, probation and parole.

Prior to former Gov. Tom Vilksack signing an order restoring voting rights to some 80,000 ex-felons on July 4, 2005 - a day Vilsack called "a celebration of democracy" - an ex-felon had to petition for a restoration of his or her voting rights. It was a time consuming process that required intervention from the governor's office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the parole board. Routinely, many of those petition requests were denied with a disproportionate number of the denials being rendered against minorities.

Now it's back to the "good old" days in Iowa.

The US news media has been completely taken by the tragic shooting in Arizona. But on the other side of the world, arguably the most significant international development in years is unfolding: the potential split up of Sudan.

A referendum on independence for southern Sudan has so far gone surprisingly smoothly... with two exception: Abyei.

Known by many as the “bridge” between the north and the south, the contested city of Abyei sits on the border between the two and stands as a microcosm of the larger conflict in Sudan.

This city is home to the Ngok Dinka, a tribe with a strong southern identity and a history of joining forces with the South during the most recent civil war. Abyei is also the frequent home to and long time grazing grounds for the nomadic Misseriya tribe, which strongly identifies with the North. The two tribes have shared this land for centuries, and battled for years for control of the region. Further complicating matters, both the northern and southern governments are continually maneuvering for the oil-rich city to fall within their borders.