February 17, 2011

How much respect did the demonstrators show for the State Capitol grounds?

Here are some photographs taken yesterday by Meade (my husband) at the demonstration against Gov. Scott Walker's budget plan:

P1060551

"If I'm a GREAT worker WHY are you treating me THIS WAY?" — an abandoned sign pleads.

P1060544

P1060545

"Hands Off," says a sign that no one touches.

P1060541

"Educators... care..." enough to leave signs to be trampled into the texture of the wet concrete.

P1060543

"Proud" pile of dirty snow promises to "fight."

***

(I attended the Tea Party rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol last year on April 15th, and I did not see a scrap of litter left behind. Participants not only took care to leave no trash of their own, they looked around and made sure no one else did.)

UPDATE: Four days into the protests, we observed that the protesters have done a great job of keeping litter off the Capitol grounds. More here.

142 comments:

MadisonMan said...

As I said yesterday, you are not allowed to take sticks into the Capitol. (Weird law).

They certainly should have picked them up on the way out, however.

Paddy O said...

The teachers need the Custodian Union to hold a rally now.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Behold, the progressive mind set: You must listen to me, you must do as I say, you must pay me as much as I want, and you must clean up after me.

Pastafarian said...

You've misunderstood what they did here.

They created jobs for other public employees to come and clean up the mess.

I think this is part of President Wonderful's recovery plan. If we can get protesters to trash every state capitol and local courthouse, we'll have unemployment down to 8% in no time. And thanks to that "multiplier" effect that you get when you spend public money, it will turn around the entire economy.

I'm feeling particularly patriotic -- I think I'll go smear human feces all over the front door of the local police station.

Lincolntf said...

Hilarious. These slobs have absolutely no respect for anything. I hope they keep protesting until they freeze their tiny little balls off. Let people see what kind of shitbags are pulling in the sweet public employee Union deals. I'd call them worms, but worms are sometimes actually useful.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Insert obsessive comment about the Tea Party here:

"but but but.. the tea party is worse! so horrible waaaa"

Anonymous said...

Why are you trying to bust up the trash union, Ann?

If lefty thieves and union thugs don't trash the capital, then the trashmen won't have jobs.

Mitch H. said...

Cleaning up after yourself takes jobs away from janitorial union members.

[oops, Pasta got there first. But mine's pithier, I think.]

Leland said...

Indeed Paddy O, indeed.

Anonymous said...

The arrogance is preposterous.

Francis Fox Pivens, anyone?

When will we see public employees follow her advice? Seems like only a matter of time, doesn't it?

Meade said...

...you are not allowed to take sticks into the Capitol. (Weird law)

Sticks and pickets can quickly become weaponized.

Henry said...

"If I'm a great sign, why are you treating me this way?"

...Paging Chip Ahoy...

Sloanasaurus said...

Behold, the progressive mind set: You must listen to me, you must do as I say, you must pay me as much as I want, and you must clean up after me.

Ironic - this is exactly how kids think....

Leland said...

What would be great is if the Wisconsin legislature collected the bill (invoice) for cleaning up that trash, and then passed a law requiring the teachers union to pay the tab!

Shanna said...

"If I'm a GREAT worker WHY are you treating me THIS WAY?" — an abandoned sign pleads.

If you're lying to your boss and skipping out on your job...are you REALLY a "great" worker?

Triangle Man said...

Sticks and pickets can quickly become weaponized.

Please check your tube socks and soda (pop) change at the entrance. Thank you.

Fred said...

Who are the looters.

and who are the looted?

Know them by their trash ...

Fred said...

These are the people I want teaching my children. Yes, indeed.

madAsHell said...

...but the trash creates more jobs!!

Bob_R said...

Yeah: looters, not teachers. Ayn may not have been able to write a good sentence, but she could pick a very good word now and then: looters.

Chennaul said...

Ugh.....

What Paddy O. said.

And this about sums it all up-

If you're lying to your boss and skipping out on your job...are you REALLY a "great" worker?.

Uh, that would be a no.

Who is this Scott Walker and can he tour the country?

sane_voter said...

Go to Redstate.com and see the video put out by the Wisconsin GOP, interspersing the hate speech and signs at the Madison union rally with the solemn pronouncments of pelosi et.al. decrying political hate speech. A powerful political punch to the shameless lefties.

Anonymous said...

"...you are not allowed to take sticks into the Capitol. (Weird law)"

Funny, I see posters (the ones attached to those banned sticks could have been removed) and flyers amongst the trash left by those lazy slobs....sorry, I meant valiant, righteous protesters who are so much more civilized than those icky teabaggers (who should just shut up, BTW).

Chennaul said...

I'm sorry but Christie you're losing me!

Mmmmm Scott Walker.....

More Action, less talkie-talkie.

JAL said...

Heh. Nice job Meade.

You've discovered a photojournalist, Professor!

JAL said...

Think one of those pix will make it to the font page of the local rag? Or the Isthmus (or whatever that alty paper of yours is called)?)

q12345q6789 said...

It's too true that these public sector employees and their union organizers don't think that these "optics" of discarded refuse matter to anyone. But, I think, they do resonate on a more basic human level that these organizers can't deign to understand.

It's as if they are literally expressing through their actions: "We are the Teachers Union and somebody else needs to take responsibility - not us. We can't be bothered."

Sofa King said...

Why isn't the law being enforced? Littering of this nature is subject to a $500 forfeiture under Wis. Stat. 287.81(2).

Chennaul said...

Scott Walker should whip up-

Operation Clean Sweep....

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

The trash must of been planted by tea party racists.

Fred said...

Aren't the home schoolers leaving their trash all over place also? And taking sick days whenever they like?

Hmmmm?

Just because they don't make $100,000+ per year in pay and benefits for 8 months of work doesn't many them any less of a burden on society.

Lincolntf said...

"Why isn't the law being enforced?"

Because the Teachers Union members are special snowflakes who can't be disturbed with silly little things like laws or public order.

Message to Wisconsin voters: We're better than you, now go pick up our shit.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Will the law disembowel unions to such an extent that it will make it useless or stupid for a member to continue to pay dues to support the union poobahs?

Anonymous said...

"Why isn't the law being enforced?"

Because the police union are co-conspirators.

The corrupt police are not on our side. The corrupt police are on thier side.

That's how these thieves can commit fraud by calling in sick then collecting pay even though they are not sick.

The police are corrupt and are not going to be arresting their union buddies.

You can't stop these people. They have the deck stacked and men with blue uniforms and guns to make sure nobody fucks with them.

AllenS said...

If there is a local Tea Party in Madison, they should clean up the mess left behind, and make damned sure everyone knows about their efforts.

Lincolntf said...

Good idea, AllenS! Wish I was up there to do it and videotape the process. It would probably make a great blog post.

Meade said...

Hey, JAL. Thanks. Glad you enjoyed.

(Btw, we were looking back at some old blog posts yesterday and discovered that it was one of your comments at the end of 2008 that instigated the private email conversation between AA and me the led to meeting in person. So thanks again for that comment!)

q12345q6789 said...

The Madison Protests are top billing on drudge now.

Scott M said...

What union office organized this "strike" yesterday and what is their main phone number?

Lincolntf said...

Great Drudge-aposition.
The "Days of Rage" heading re: Madison, WI and the picture of Americans being hung in effigy by Islamists.
The Teachers Unions are finding themselves in very interesting meta-company.

Christopher in MA said...

I don't know. . .this thread's just not the same without Garage desperately whining about the crook governor of Florida and R-V snippily insisting we don't understand the necessity of unions because his great-grandpappy was forced to work 37 hours in t'mill and eat a lump of dried poison for breakfast.

Anonymous said...

I looked at some of the pictures of the demonstration over at Drudge.

Raises another interesting point.

Who would have known that there were that many public sector employees in Wisconsin?

Is it in the PR interest of public sector employees to remind voters just how bloated is their number?

Hagar said...

From the unanimous sentiments expressed in the comments above, I deduce that the teachers unions of the Peoples republic of Madison, Wisc., have done great damage to the public school teachers' cause.

However, I also remember the bad, old days, and the teachers do need protection against the the verkramptes of the local school boards.
Things have gotten out of hand when NEA and the AFT affiliate with the thugs of SEIU and threaten the State Government, but I think this may be more due to poor leadership and misguided loyalty to "liberal" causes, than evil intent. Teachers are generally good people, which is why they become teachers in the first place, but they obviously are as liable to herd, or mob, action as anyone else when gathered in a group.

Unknown said...

Keep it up, unions, you're doing Walker's work for him.

Anonymous said...

"What union office organized this "strike" yesterday and what is their main phone number?"

That would be the payroll fraud co-conspirators at the Wisconsin Education Association Council.

They can be picketed at 33 Nob Hill Road, Madison, WI and you can call them to protest at 608-276-7711.

But if you call them from out of state at their 1-800 number, they will have to pay for the long distance charges. Gee, I wonder what that would do to their budget?

Call 1-800-362-8034.

Ask for Mary Bell.

Corre∫pondence Committee said...

Re: "Ironic - this is exactly how kids think...."

This has long been my theory. The conservative/liberal relationship mimics the parent/child relationship.

"Feed me, clothe me, meet all my needs. What?? I can't have that candybar?? I don't CARE why! I HATE YOU DADDY! I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU!!"

MaggotAtBroad&Wall said...

They committed a fraud on the taxpayers and the students with the sickout. They taught the students it's ok to lie if it helps you achieve a goal. And now they've shirked their responsibility to clean up their own filth.

And we're surprised by any of this why?

Unknown said...

Ah, the Lefty sense of entitlement.

And the Tea Partiers, who are so eeevil, clean up after themselves so there isn't a lot of work for the public sector unions.

Real American said...

The trash left more trash.

Rob Crawford said...

"As I said yesterday, you are not allowed to take sticks into the Capitol. (Weird law)."

Not at all weird. It's to prevent protest signs from becoming weapons.

ricpic said...

Russ Feingold, that cutey pie, just told us this is all about busting the unions and has NOTHING to do with the state being broke.

M. Simon said...

Do they still have the pro-pot harvest rallies in the fall? I recall those being fairly clean. Of course they just wanted the government to get off their backs.

Trooper York said...

You better not let Meade do too much of this journalist bullshit.

You just know that he is bound to be sexually molested by some kindergarten teachers and called a dirty "Jew."

It's just bound to happen.

Anonymous said...

Petulant, self centered, entitlement drones. What a bunch. And remember they spend several hours a day- unsupervised- with your children.

Unknown said...

AllenS said...
"If there is a local Tea Party in Madison, they should clean up the mess left behind, and make damned sure everyone knows about their efforts."

... and haul it all to the teacher's union's offices.

"Hey, I think you dropped something..."

DARLENE MAHONEY said...

my word don't they know how to pick up after them self at what alot of pig's

jms said...

Why would a liberal clean up his or her own mess? Isn't that what the government is for?

Dan from Madison said...

Hey, hey, ho, ho, these litterbugs have got to go.

chickelit said...

"Ye shall know them by their trashy fruits" link

Sofa King said...

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM MY UNIONIZED KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

Hog as much as you can for yourself.
Fair play is for suckers.
Don't hit people if anyone is looking.
Pocket things for yourself, wherever you found them.
Make other people clean up your own mess.
Take things that aren't yours.
Never say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands after you make Hitler signs.
Flush.
Lavish pensions and benefits are good for you.
Live a balanced life - complain some and whine some and bitch and moan and protest and threaten and cajole and hyperbolize every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon during video time.
If you go out in the world, watch out for taxpayers, hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of your desires. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really cares, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all need handouts. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - DICK.

Triangle Man said...

It's not litter, they're starting a new composting facility to develop renewable resources for the benefit of the State.

Milwaukee said...

The teachers forget that "Because I say so!" only works in their classroom. Only with school vouchers and competition in schooling opportunity will we free our children held hostage by teachers.

Obama mmm mmm mmmm.

Leland said...

Trooper, I think Meade is safe. School teachers tend to have sex with their students rather than journalist. Wonder if Meade ever studied law at UW...

The Comedian said...

They're just trying to generate some overtime for their union-brothers who clean the grounds.

Anonymous said...

Protesters tend to leave their messages signs behind as a reminder. I don't think the tea parties could come up with the numbers that this protest has drawn. Tea parties are cleaner simply by their smaller turn out.

Anonymous said...

Rush just mentioned this post

Scott M said...

Protesters tend to leave their messages signs behind as a reminder. I don't think the tea parties could come up with the numbers that this protest has drawn. Tea parties are cleaner simply by their smaller turn out.

Hysterical. What Mobius strip do you get your logic from? Is your favorite snack the pretzel? Are you a yoga practitioner?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Rush just plugged the blog.

Scott M said...

How?

Caroline said...

Re: "Ironic - this is exactly how kids think...."

I was shopping yesterday for a birthday gift for my niece. One aisle over I could hear a little boy, about 4 or 5, begging repeatedly,

Boy (loudly): "But daddy I want this one. I don't want the smaller one. I like this one. I'll be "asponsible". I promise."

Father (quietly): "You can't have it. I don't have enough money. I only have $40. You can have the smaller one."

Boy (louder): "But daddy I want the bigger one! I want it! I WANT IT!!!"

This went on for the whole time I was shopping. I eventually left with my items so I don't know how it ended. I commend the dad for his patience, if nothing else. (With my mother it would have been over immediately with one look from her. With my dad it would have taken a little longer, but it would have ended with the kid being dragged from the store with nothing.)

It does kinda sum up the mindset of the entitlement class. "I don't care if you don't have the money... I WANT, I WANT!!!"

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chip Ahoy said...

Instalanche! *runs*

Scott M said...

Justine,

I lost IQ points just clicking on that link. Horrible discussion peopled by children who stayed up past their bedtime.

lemondog said...

How much respect did the demonstrators show for the State Capitol grounds?

Gripe gripe bitch moan groan....

Sheeesh

What the hell do ya think you pay taxes for........

Shanna said...

Boy (louder): "But daddy I want the bigger one! I want it! I WANT IT!!!"

Every time my nephews do this I give some variant on a "just because you want something doesn't mean it's going to happen" speech. They do this quite a lot but eventually they will figure out it doesn't work.

Anonymous said...

Scott M.

I admit that the link was posted in haste and has now been removed. The image was what was important. I highly doubt that there has not been one tea party protest that didn't leave heaps of trash behind. All public events should be wiser to pick up their trash. I just don't think that trash left behind diminishes the message of the demonstration. The comments I read here highlight the pack "holier than thou" attitude of your average tea party member.

PWS said...

It's wrong of the demonstrators to litter. I can't help but wonder though if a tone gets set at the top. What is the tone being set by Governor Walker with his proposals?

Bob said...

As a Badger, I know toy weapons in the classroom can get my children in deep, deep trouble --

But, hear are weapons of mass instruction are littered everywhere around our Capitol Square.

Go figure!

Joe said...

(The Crypto Jew)

I admit that the link was posted in haste and has now been removed. The image was what was important. I highly doubt that there has not been one tea party protest that didn't leave heaps of trash behind. All public events should be wiser to pick up their trash. I just don't think that trash left behind diminishes the message of the demonstration. The comments I read here highlight the pack "holier than thou" attitude of your average tea party member.
Then you’ll be able to post those pictures taken by the Kossacs, Media Matter, Moveon.org, Organizing for America, right to prove your point? Otherwise I’m afraid you really are lacking the evidence to back your claim.

Anonymous said...

Joe,

I'm admitting right now that I don't have photos. I'm stating that it's a statistically unlikely. I don't read those media outlets that you mentioned, nor do I listen to Rush or his likes.

Scott M said...

Joe,

Check out the "Dead Island" trailer. I'm not going to bother with the game, but the trailer is a small work of art.

Joe said...

he Crypto Jew)

Joe,

I'm admitting right now that I don't have photos. I'm stating that it's a statistically unlikely. I don't read those media outlets that you mentioned, nor do I listen to Rush or his likes.


So there’s no evidence, and you can’t be bothered to hunt for any, we’ll just take it as an axiom, right? Nice try and thank you for your contribution.


Joe,

Check out the "Dead Island" trailer. I'm not going to bother with the game, but the trailer is a small work of art.


Thought of you, in a non-homo-erotic fashion, when I saw this….

Theories of International Politics and Zombies
by Daniel W. Drezner (Paperback)
$14.95$9.40

Clyde said...

"Everywhere there's lots of piggies
"Living piggie lives,
"You can see them out for dinner
"With their piggie wives,
"Using forks and knives
"To eat their bacon..."

-- The Beatles, "Piggies," The Beatles (White Album), 1968

Scott M said...

Theories of International Politics and Zombies

Ditto. Could be good if it cites WWZ as a primary source.

On the other hand, a Sol-sized EMP is coming tomorrow...

Anonymous said...

Just thought I'd mention that the protest has not ended yet. There is a chance that the pile of signs will be picked up. Don't point the finger until the event is over.

turtle said...

Why are Liberals such pigs?

MadisonMan said...

Just thought I'd mention that the protest has not ended yet. There is a chance that the pile of signs will be picked up. Don't point the finger until the event is over.

And I thought I was a Pollyanna!

Joe said...

(The Crypto Jew)

Just thought I'd mention that the protest has not ended yet. There is a chance that the pile of signs will be picked up. Don't point the finger until the event is over..


I’m sure the Capitol Physical Plant Department left those signs from YESTERDAY, on the off chance they’ll be collected today…Dood/doodette just admit you’re wrong….Let’s see the logic, “I dropped the sign, but I promise I’ll come back for it.”

turtle said...

Isn't it ironic it's Liberals who act like disrespectful Pigs, then demand respect from others?

Reward those actions, you'll breed more of the same.

Kirk Parker said...

MadMan: "..you are not allowed to take sticks into the Capitol. (Weird law)"

Meade: "Sticks and pickets can quickly become weaponized."

Me: Hey, in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave (aka Washington State), we can indeed take our loaded handguns everywhere on state government property and in to buildings, excepting only court facilities. Here's a real-life example that occurred early last year that provoked much hilarity against the hoplophobe activist in question. (I wasn't at the hearing, but I know several of the individuals who were, including Jim Beal who was cited in the Examiner article.)

wv: nopsur - a polite denial. "Nopsur, there's absolutely nothing illegal about these people carrying their handguns in here."

The Sanity Inspector said...

And some of these hothouse blossoms had the nerve to liken themselves to the Egyptian democracy protesters.

Duncan said...

Anne, you remember what it was like when you were a leftie, don't you:

Lefties are much less likely than non lefties to form lasting family relationships, they kill themselves and others much more frequently, they suffer more from drug and substance abuse, they are more prone to disease, they even have a higher accident rate, they have lower family incomes, their MMPIs are much more jagged, their life expectancy is shorter, and they score lower on tests designed to show levels of personal happiness or satisfaction.

And they litter too.

Unknown said...

Justin(e) --

"Don't point the finger until the event is over."

You mean, now that they've been exposed, if they go back and pick up their trash to cover up their boorishness, it's OK? No, you don't get that one.

Robert S. said...

Remember.. They did the exact same thing in Washington at their "One Nation Union Socialism Rally."

http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2010/10/15-photos-from-onenation-rally-youll.html

lemondog said...

There is a chance that the pile of signs will be picked up.

Hold your breath.

turtle said...

Great workers know great works speak for itself, and you're happy to pay them what ever you can.

Good workers satiate themselves that their pay equals their work, and the market keeps them employed.

Only poor workers not only have to tell you how great they are, but get upset when you don't stoke their egos. They are generally unemployed.

And then there are Union workers: It doesn't matter what kind of a job they do, you can't fire them, you're going to pay too much for them and told to like it. Or else they'll pimp your kids to hold their signs.

The president should speak up against this fascist behavior, oh, wait a minute... Hello? Andy Sterns? Never mind...

Anonymous said...

You mean, now that they've been exposed, if they go back and pick up their trash to cover up their boorishness, it's OK? No, you don't get that one.

OH! you know what, your right! I really don't expect you to consider forgiveness if a last moment cleanup effort were mounted. Jesus hates forgiveness after all.

Unknown said...

This is because many of these protesters are paid to be there, don't care they are really there, and don't care what they leave behind. Typical union tactics.

Michael said...

Justin(e): "I'm admitting right now that I don't have photos. I'm stating that it's a statistically unlikely."

Wrong. It is statistically impossible that there would be trash left behind at tea party events because the attendees are dudley do rights, squares, non-hipsters and, worse, people from nowheresville. They always, every single time, pick up after themselves. It is a concept you are unfamiliar with and would like to apply "statistics" to to make it disappear. Tea Party people make their beds, pay their bills, pay their taxes, go to church, and do all the other creepy middle america things which defy statistics. You can read up on it.

merchvent said...

I love the soggy dirty trampled garbage sign that reads " You can't walk all over teachers"

Unknown said...

Typical loud rude socialists. Expect everyone else to pay for them. Expect everyone else to work while they take the day off. Expect everyone else to pick up after them.

And we already tax the rich. There are wealthy people out there who pay more in taxes in one year than these yahoos make in their lifetimes (benefits included). And you don't see them out there in the streets protesting. They are too busy WORKING...something the lazy government parasites can't comprehend. Cut off these governments!! Tax Revolt!!

Anonymous said...

Michael,

I am from middle america and the picture you paint is likely from watching too much Leave it to Beaver. Plenty of people from all political affiliations make their beds, go to church and pay their taxes.

Soapbox Jill said...

This pushy, slobbish behavior of teachers' union and teachers shows just how out of hand their power has gotten. They are supposed to work for us. The union aggressively pushes for more, more, more even when taxpayers are having to get by with less. BECAUSE OF THIS BEHAVIOR I SUPPORT WALKER'S BILL EVEN MORE>

Soapbox Jill said...

Ever notice that it's always the folks who want to GET something that leave messes? The TAKERS could not care less about anything but GETTING what they want. They have no self-control or respect for other people's property.

michaele said...

Hmmm, I wonder who would leave a bigger mess in ANWR...picketing public union supporters or the oil drilling companies?

Anonymous said...

"The police are corrupt and are not going to be arresting their union buddies."

Yep. Remeber that the next time a policeman is shot in the line of duty. Cops will take a few days off (a thousand of them, in many cases) to come to the funeral to "pay their respects".

Nothing wrong with that, right? I mean, the crooks, rapists, and thieves take those same days off back in their home states, right?

And the military also sends thousands of troops to attend the funerals of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan......don't they?

Scott M said...

And the military also sends thousands of troops to attend the funerals of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan......don't they?

That's an excellent point. Should members of the military, as public employees, be able to unionize? If the cops and firefighters can, why not the military?

Joe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe said...

(The Crypto Jew)

And the military also sends thousands of troops to attend the funerals of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan......don't they?
There’s a point in here struggling, desperately, to get out…what is it?

But if you’re writing in SYMPATHY of the teachers, please note that the “thousands” of troops at funerals, didn’t call in sick, in Afghanistan or Iraq, and turn up at the funeral. They are Stateside, on colour-guard duty….so it’s their JOB to turn up at the funeral(s).

Christy said...

Be proud Wisconsin! From the Drudge pic I see you have a beautiful capitol building, and the discarded signs we see are correctly spelled. During the last teacher turn-out I saw in Baltimore far too many teachers could not spell common 2-syllable words.

shiloh said...

Lefties are much less likely ... yada yada yada

Obama's 2008 presidential endorsements

btw SC, MS, AL, AR, OK, ID, TX, LA, WV, KY, GA, TN etc. solidly Republican when voting for president!

Poverty Level:

# 1 Mississippi: 21.6%
# 2 Louisiana: 19.4%
# 3 New Mexico: 19.3%
# 4 District of Columbia: 18.9%
= 5 Arkansas: 17.9%
= 5 West Virginia: 17.9%
# 7 Kentucky: 17.4%
# 8 Texas: 16.6%
# 9 Alabama: 16.1%
# 10 South Carolina: 15.7%
# 11 Oklahoma: 15.3%
# 12 North Carolina: 15.2%
# 13 Georgia: 14.8%
= 14 Tennessee: 14.5%
= 14 Idaho: 14.5%

Healthiest:

# 37 Alaska: -4.98
# 38 Tennessee: -5
# 39 Arizona: -5.78
# 40 Arkansas: -5.93
# 41 Alabama: -9.97
# 42 Georgia: -10
# 43 South Carolina: -10.63
# 44 Florida: -11.21
# 45 Texas: -11.85
# 46 Oklahoma: -12.07
# 47 Nevada: -13.37
# 48 New Mexico: -17.69
# 49 Mississippi: -18.43
# 50 Louisiana: -20.95

Best place to live:

# 36 Arizona: 22.11
# 37 Florida: 21.82
# 38 Georgia: 21.77
# 39 Alabama: 21
# 40 North Carolina: 20.61
# 41 Kentucky: 20.48
# 42 New Mexico: 20.43
# 43 Oklahoma: 20.37
# 44 South Carolina: 20.34
# 45 Texas: 19.93
# 46 West Virginia: 19.64
# 47 Tennessee: 19.5
# 48 Arkansas: 19.25
# 49 Louisiana: 17.25
# 50 Mississippi: 16.11

Most trigger happy!:

# 1 District of Columbia: 31.2
# 2 Alaska: 20
# 3 Louisiana: 19.5
# 4 Wyoming: 18.8
# 5 Arizona: 18
= 6 Nevada: 17.3
= 6 Mississippi: 17.3
# 8 New Mexico: 16.6
# 9 Arkansas: 16.3
# 10 Alabama: 16.2
# 11 Tennessee: 15.4
# 12 West Virginia: 14.7
# 13 Montana: 14.5
# 14 South Carolina: 13.8
# 15 North Carolina: 13.6
# 16 Georgia: 13.4
= 17 Kentucky: 13.1
= 17 Oklahoma: 13.1
= 19 Missouri: 12.3
= 19 Idaho: 12.3
# 21 Indiana: 11.7

etc. etc.

One of the biggest oxymoron axioms is the South will rise again ...

This misnomer assumes the South was ever on top to begin with, eh.

After Shiloh, the South never smiled!

take care, blessings

Benjamin Doolittle said...

@MadisonMan,

"speak softly and carry a big stick and you will go far" ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Happy Fuzzy said...

My god. Elitist trash writing about trash left by a small few idiots.

Michael said...

michaele: I would imagine the picketers would leave a bigger mess if they went to anwar to protest. Otherwise a very stupid post inasmuch as oil drilling companies have absolutely nothing to do with this topic. Even remotely.

Hmm, I wonder how michaele's car would run on oil drilled by SEIU or the teacher's union.

Michael said...

Fuzzy: So, we can't write about their piggy habits, their violent signs, their skipping work or their forcing thousands of families to take time off work to look after children dumped at home so teachers could protest. Got it.

Triangle Man said...

@Michael

Write about what you want, as long as you realize that it's a transparent effort at distraction from the substantive issues, just like it is when the left and mainstream media do it.

Wisco said...

They didn't leave behind a mess -- they never left.

Jim Treacher said...

"If you can read this sign, thank a teacher. Then clean up after me like the spoiled baby I am."

Anonymous said...

Oooh, lookie here!

Triangle Man has found him some equivalence!

That is, Union thugs co-opting the kids under their care to come and help scream "Gimme the damn money!" and trashing the place afterward

is exactly the same thing as

Tea partiers assembling to complain that their taxes are too high, either leaving the kids at home or letting them run around at the event, and cleaning up after their rally.

Yeah, sure, TM. Equivalence. <snort>

Michael said...

Justin(e): Exactly my point. The people described, regardless of party, pick up after themselves. The tea party is mostly made up of those kinds of people. and if one of them throws something on the ground another picks it up. not so much in madison

rhhardin said...

It's Alice's Restaurant all over again.

Gahrie said...

You know guys, some of us teachers aren't total assholes.

Gahrie said...

their forcing thousands of families to take time off work to look after children dumped at home

You have just stumbled on one of the real problem with schools today.

As far as most parents They have become "free" childcare centers.

Unknown said...

Gahrie, perhaps more moms or dads would stay home with the kids if they felt they could afford to do so. (Some of us bite the bullet and do it anyway.) But they have to pay taxes to support all those government programs. These protesting public employees - teachers included - weren't considering those people, were they? They know the state is in serious financial trouble, or should know, and yet they think they are entitled to wages and benefits workers in the private sector do not have. Unemployment is up, full employment is down, people are in a hard place financially and teachers, etal. want MORE? Not very good citizenship in my opinion.

I got a teaching certificate - chose to raise my family instead so I only subbed. My Mom taught. Several of my sisters taught. I know all teachers aren't selfish,lying, greedy, litterers. But this lot appears to be.

Larry Sheldon said...

I'm so glad Althouse got what Althouse wanted.

Unknown said...

At least there were no cucumbers and condoms left around.

And Justin by your logic, can I throw my trash on the floor at your house because you might invite me back? (not) Hope you're not a teacher....

Anonymous said...

You can always tell which group was protesting by the trash they left, or in the case of the Tea Party, the trash they didn't leave.
Conservatives take care of themselves and clean up their own mess. Liberals expect someone else to take care of them and to clean up after them.

Unknown said...

I've personally been part of the clean up crew at the protest, and you're not presenting an accurate description of the conditions here at all. As one of the commenters above noted, sticks are not allowed within the capital building, so people deposit them at the entrances and, in many cases, pick them up after leaving the capitol, which is why we ask people not to take signs from these piles. In the evening, all signs which are not reclaimed are discarded. For the huge number of people here (and I cannot speak to how many people were at your Tea Party rally), the capitol is surprisingly clean, and we've been having people go around in shifts throughout the day collecting trash both inside and outside the building.

Alicea said...

Althouse "sometimes writes about law" but then commits appropriates the classic Straw Man fallacy: "look some of them made a mess, don't listen to their argument". This thread is an utter farce. Seriously, did any of you (who like to try validate your disgust with human beings other than yourself by deeming them liberals, lazy, etc.) even stop to think that 1) there were a large number of protesters 2) really no TRASH - just signs left behind (as political statement) and conveniently photographed after the elements got to them 3) not even that many signs considering the numbers that came out. I'd hate to be a student wasting my money on classes wherever Althouse pretends to teach. LOL ad infinitum at this sloppy and skewed reality Althouse has instilled in you all!

axy said...

I think the reason the tea party didn't leave any litter behind was because there were about 100 of them. We're talking 10's of thousands, and the signs with wood are not allowed in the capitol. Just following the rules. There were garbage cans earlier in the week, by Thursday, the police were telling us to leave the signs in a pile.

Someone will clean up. Undoubtedly a union employee.

Call Me Mom said...

I have attended two TEA Parties at the capital. They were both attended by thousands of people. People who piled their signs or the removed sticks in easily removed and orderly piles, unless they intended to retrieve them later. In addition, many of the other attendees, myself included, picked up litter and disposed of it properly. I have seen the same polite, orderly and respectful behaviors at TEA Parties in my own community.

This is clearly an indicator of the character of these two groups. In addition, although I remember seeing many biting, and sarcastic signs at those TEA Parties, I do not recall seeing profanity or vulgarity. Perhaps it's because we think more of ourselves than to allow ourselves to be associated with that sort of thing.

I also recall the crowd taking a speaker to task when the message became too personal regarding a legislator on the opposing side of an issue.

Thank you for sharing your photos and your story.

Anonymous said...

axy sez:

I think the reason the tea party didn't leave any litter behind was because there were about 100 of them.

And the 'ol credibility meter bends its needle on the '0.'

Actually, the dichotomy between the protest clean up habits of left and right are well established. Lefties are slobs. The right clean up after themselves.

Unknown said...

This was merely a way to provide kindling for the homeless...

commoncents said...

THANK YOU for posting this! We are all over this on Common Cents...

http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

If any of you had been at the capitol you would know that you aren't allowed to bring sticks into the capitol. Instead you are probably sitting at home on your couch watching this from afar. Good, stay there while we bring democracy to your doorstep.

Muhammad said...

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Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/EastMtTeaParty
http://www.facebook.com/Albuquerque.Tea.Party
MUCH thanks for the photos !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dave in boca said...

Leftists are destructive pigs...period. And the tea party members are adults. Read the great piece by Victor Davis Hanson on extended adolescence in PJM yesterday.

agent_provocateur said...

They are spoiled children.
They are pigs.

pharmer1 said...

Thanks for this post. I passed it on, because more people need to understand the hypocrisy of those who preach the "greenie religion" to their kids in school.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

These slobs have absolutely no respect for anything. I hope they keep protesting until they freeze their tiny little balls off. Let people see what kind of shitbags are pulling in the sweet public employee Union deals. I'd call them worms, but worms are sometimes actually useful.I am player of games,I like play GW2 games,I need gw2 gold!If you have cheap Guild Wars 2 Gold,I can to buy it.