October 2, 2012

"President Barack Obama will hold a campaign rally on Bascom Hill this Thursday."

Openly announces the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

After I went to all that trouble to critique the earlier attempt to frame the visit as historical and presidential, when it was really a campaign rally.

I can't believe the University is shutting down, closing buildings such as the Law School, depriving us of the rooms for regularly scheduled classes, for an entire day, to accommodate a campaign rally. The grounds and the students are provided for a massively intrusive photo-op. Of course, the students don't have to attend. But they will. They've paid their tuition for classes, which they're not getting, and their bodies are repurposed for political exploitation.

What should a UW student do?
  
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241 comments:

1 – 200 of 241   Newer›   Newest»
Shouting Thomas said...

As I said, UW officially endorses Barack Obama for President!

Yeah!

The result of a 50 year program of quotas designed to created a liberal Democratic student body and 50 years of blacklisting white conservative men from faculty and staff positions.

Mission accomplished!

Matt Sablan said...

I think someone should try and show up with a sign: "Obama stole a day of my education."

leslyn said...

And if it were Mitt coming to town? Here or anywhere else?

LilyBart said...

Ann, as a woman, how does THIS news affect you:

Under Obama, Poor, Middle Class Incomes Fall Sharply

Since 2009, the middle 20% of American households saw their average incomes drop 4%. In 2011 alone, they fell 1.7%. The poorest 20% have fared even worse under Obama, Census data show. Their incomes have dropped more than 7% since 2009, and are now lower than they've been at any time since 1985, after adjusting for inflation.

Read More At IBD: http://news.investors.com/100212-627662-under-obama-poor-middle-class-incomes-fall-sharply.aspx#ixzz28AYUJnzF

chickelit said...

@Althouse: If you stand at the crest of Bascom Hill and look down and across towards the Capitol, you will see an imperfect alignment of axes. State Street and Bascom Mall are not perfectly colinear. They meet and join somewhere down near the clock tower.

It may just be a geographic artifact that the two lines are not perfectly colinear, but I've always thought it was purposeful--done by design.

The Capitol and University are not the same--they are linked by commerce and the free exchange of ideas. If they should become one and the same (the UW and the Federal Goverment or even the State Goverment), much is lost and nothing gained.

Nichevo said...

how about suing? Wouldn't that be a great exercise for your students? Not that I know what you have them do in class, but some kind of assignment like:

"Frame the lawsuit against Barack Obama, his campaign, and/or the University for theft of services due to the campaign appearance. What torts were committed? What is a reasonable estimate of compensatory and punitive damages?"

I suppose in the name of fairness you could structure the assignment so that students can take the pro or con side; you would have to divide that out among the students yourself as their preferences might not work out for even assignment of the roles.

TWM said...

Will they allow ticket holding students to enter if they wear Romney gear?

Shouting Thomas said...

You are now, officially, Althouse...

A fucking bigot!

Matt Sablan said...

"And if it were Mitt coming to town? Here or anywhere else?"

-- It doesn't matter what someone else might have done. The point is that Obama is deliberately interrupting college courses for a day (courses that were paid for, note.) He is robbing the students of something they paid for. If other people would also do that, shame on them. But, hey, let's actually talk about the person who is actually showing that education isn't that important to him.

Tim said...

"I can't believe the University is shutting down, closing buildings such as the Law School, depriving us of the rooms for regularly scheduled classes, for an entire day, to accommodate a campaign rally."

How can you NOT believe this?

Does anyone anywhere think any less than 90% of the UW faculty and administration will be voting for Obama?

And with Wisconsin prospectively a "swing" state, and the Democrat turnout likely significantly lower than in '08, why wouldn't the Obama voters running UW not do everything possible to drive up the Obama vote in Madison?

The University's integrity?

Pffffft. A mere contrivance, long since subsumed by ideology.

Shouting Thomas said...

You are now, officially, Althouse...

A fucking bigot!


All criticism of Obama, and all departure from support for the Obama program is bigotry!

Welcome to the ranks of the bigots, Althouse.

Amartel said...

Yesterday the prospect that the University would be shut down and that you would not be allowed in your office seemed "ridiculous."

Now not only is this (public) University clearly helping one candidate by providing free lovely academic backdrop and crowd, at no expense, but it's extracting and funnelling potential voter information to the candidate.

Someone local really needs to show up on a neighboring hillside and give the full moon in view of the cameras. It's expressive speech and no less ridiculous than what will be playing out below.

Shouting Thomas said...

I'll bet you didn't foresee this when you were a young, ardent feminist, did you, Althouse?

You didn't see the feminism leading to this inevitable conclusion.

No smugness here.

I was a leftist of a different brand 50 years ago, and I did not foresee this conclusion either.

MadisonMan said...

I like nichevo's idea, but I don't think it aligns with althouse's class.

Shouting Thomas said...

So, Althouse, is it time to end the quotas and the blacklisting?

Tim said...

LilyBart said...

"Ann, as a woman, how does THIS news affect you:

Under Obama, Poor, Middle Class Incomes Fall Sharply"


Damn, that's so unfair.

Families losing income, wealth is a trifle compared to the "hurt feelings" of an unusually articulate and politically involved 27 year old woman with Downs' Syndrome.

Because, you see, if you thought Obama could actually do a good job as president in '08, or that after proving himself a failure over the last four years, he could still do a good job as president, you'll believe *anything*, including that an unusually articulate, politically involved 27 year old women with Downs' Syndrome wrote a letter to the Obama campaign complaining about Romeny's "47%" comment.

Fixing willful stupidity is exceedingly difficult.

Wince said...

Maybe "Brittany" will have a chance to ask Obama about...

The Obamacare “Special Needs Kids Tax” – a $13 billion tax increase

The 30-35 million Americans who use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) at work to pay for their family’s basic medical needs will face a new government cap of $2,500 (currently the accounts are unlimited under federal law, though employers are allowed to set a cap).

There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are several million families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education. This Obamacare tax provision will limit the options available to these families.

Wince said...

Althouse left one choice off her poll: What should a UW student do?

"Seek an injunction."

leslyn said...

Boy did I pick a great day to laze by the Silliness Sycophants!

Bryan C said...

All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state. The University knows its proper place.

Shouting Thomas said...

Gratitude expressed where deserved.

Thanks, Althouse.

The phones must be ringing of the hook at UW administrative offices from outraged readers asking what in the hell they're doing.

You've got a very thick skin. I can just imagine what your colleagues are going to say and do in response to this heretical posting.

Tim said...

"There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are several million families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education. This Obamacare tax provision will limit the options available to these families."

But, but, but Romney hurt her feelings, lol!

Balfegor said...

"Frame the lawsuit against Barack Obama, his campaign, and/or the University for theft of services due to the campaign appearance. What torts were committed? What is a reasonable estimate of compensatory and punitive damages?"

But isn't the university state subsidised? The people who are really getting cheated are the taxpayers, whose money is going to support the university on the theory that it's providing a public benefit in the form of an educated population. They're losing that one marginal day of education, multiplied against all the students in all those classes.

I don't believe taxpayers generally have standing to sue when the government squanders their money, though.

Tim said...

"The phones must be ringing of the hook at UW administrative offices from outraged readers asking what in the hell they're doing."

Better to call the Legislature, and have them cut UW funding. Make administrators and faculty sell brownies.

chickelit said...

leslyn said...
Boy did I pick a great day to laze by the Silliness Sycophants!

You've been gone for a while. I figured you'd get hot under your hood and need to blow something out your tailpipe.

Tim said...

"I don't believe taxpayers generally have standing to sue when the government squanders their money, though."

But the Legislature can cut funding.

Anonymous said...

Actually the students should ask for a refund for the class time that they missed due to the President's campaign stop.

john said...

Just think of it as a snow day.

leslyn said...

Oh hey! This means Scott Walker can go back to Marquette to hold a campaign rally! ....What's that? (inaudible) Well, why wouldn't he want to do that??

garage mahal said...

But the Legislature can cut funding.

And.... do some drive bys and drunk dial the UW. That'll teach em!

coketown said...

UW Madison figured they would give their students a break from being lectured by con law professors. Oh wait. That's what's happening Thursday! Except this lecture doesn't allow questions. Put your fucking hands down, props!

bagoh20 said...

Is there anything remaining traditionally nonpartisan and shared by all Americans equally that has not been commandeered by the left after 4 years of this fetish. Everything is controlled and run for political purposes now unless it is something created entirely by and for conservatives, such as talk radio, or right wing blogs.

Newspapers, TV, education, entertainment, music, movies, public employees and the entire governmental bureaucracy is in service to protecting and electing the left, at the moment, specifically, the lightworker.

If Romney wins, and especially if he tries to actually make any reforms, that all will be turned against him with a continuous cacophony of harpy song and pecking, until he stops or is destroyed.

It's a beautiful place we have arrived at. What pride I feel, and the accompanying sense of promise it brings.

Anonymous said...

How many of the people who think the students should just enjoy the day off had to worry about how to pay for college? I know, it is hard for elite leftists to understand, but to some of us who come from reality land, $167 is a lot of money and learning is something that we value.

Anonymous said...

Worth every dime of tuition to see the President at your college. How many can say they were at a Presidential visit, or Presidential rally, whatever? Enjoy the experience, break out the cameras, and post great pictures.

I'll be there with my daughter and new son in law, good times! Maybe I'll catch a glimpse of the blond hair of Althouse and red ball cap of Meade.

Shouting Thomas said...

Inga, your absolute ignorance of the American political tradition, and concepts like institutional fairness...

Is absolutely mind boggling.

And, to think, you're going to actually vote.

God help us!

Calypso Facto said...

I'll re-post from one of the previous threads:

UWS 21.04  Use of facilities by persons or organizations not associated with an institution.
(1) The chancellor of each institution, or his or her designee, may permit persons, or organizations not associated with that institution, to use university facilities at his or her institution if he or she determines that:
(a) The proposed use is under the sponsorship or at the invitation of an organization associated with the institution;
(b) The proposed use will not interfere with or detract from the teaching, research and public service missions of the institution, or the use of the facilities by organizations associated with the institution;

Anonymous said...

Good Lord, ST. Are you still ranting? Relax.

Matt Sablan said...

"How many can say they were at a Presidential visit, or Presidential rally, whatever? Enjoy the experience, break out the cameras, and post great pictures."

-- No. They don't get to enjoy the visit unless they give up their personal information to the campaign. This isn't a public rally, it is solely for those who have signed on as supporters of the campaign at a public institution. If he were just holding an event and anyone who wanted to could come by, I could, somehow, see this argument as valid.

That's not what happened. Anyone who does not support Obama is having it made very clear to them they are not welcomed on the campus.

Shouting Thomas said...

Good Lord, ST. Are you still ranting? Relax.

You keep pulling out the bullshit, Inga/Allie.

Yes, we know that your comments are the epitome of calm, quiet reason...

And, everybody else is an angry ranter.

That bullshit is getting a bit old. You got anything new?

Anonymous said...

Well bury the silver and hide the children. OMG the humanity.

chickelit said...

Inga said...
How many can say they were at a Presidential visit, or Presidential rally, whatever?

I think there's a huge difference.

Anonymous said...

Quit your buzzin' ST. Go gather some pollen.

Jim said...

Could the students sue the University for a partial refund of their tuition?

coketown said...

And yeah, okay, whatever, phone numbers. The more pressing question: Will photo IDs be required once tickets are acquired?

Shouting Thomas said...

Quit your buzzin' ST. Go gather some pollen.

There you go again, Inga.

After all your hysterical raving about kissing your ass last week, you're pulling out some pretty rank bullshit.

Did you get your ass kissed yet?

Methadras said...

Hey Ann, when are you going to stop acting shocked and surprised and dejected that contributed to this empty suits reign on our country only to see him inconvenience you and your school? Lol. Is your cruel neutrality over? Have you been push over the cruel neutrality cliff and flew past the new civility ledge to land on your politically broken back at the bottom of leftard campaign rally gulch?

Shouting Thomas said...

The problem here, Inga, and I'll explain this real slow for the mentally impaired is...

The university is...

for all practical purposes...

endorsing a candidate for president.

Anonymous said...

Yes, ST as a matter of fact I did. And it was very nice.

Shouting Thomas said...

Yes, ST as a matter of fact I did. And it was very nice.

About time. I thought you were going to split your panties.

Methadras said...

Shouting Thomas said...

Quit your buzzin' ST. Go gather some pollen.

There you go again, Inga.

After all your hysterical raving about kissing your ass last week, you're pulling out some pretty rank bullshit.

Did you get your ass kissed yet?


Bag is getting ready to apply his chapstick posthaste!!!

I'm Full of Soup said...

So will university employees be paid for the day off and, if so, will they have to use a vacation day or sick day?

Anonymous said...

Ohhhh Goddddd! ST running in circles waving arms over head....

Such hysteria, comical.

Shouting Thomas said...

Ohhhh Goddddd! ST running in circles waving arms over head....

Same tactic, repeated.

Inga, I'm calming sitting here.

I've grown accustomed to your complete ignorance of the proprieties and customs of U.S. law and politics.

Shouting Thomas said...

OK, Inga, you've worn out the "people who disagree with me are crazy and hysterical" thing.

Now, explain your complete and utter ignorance.

What's your excuse?

chickelit said...

Well bury the silver and hide the children. OMG the humanity

Shouting Thomas said...

How does this relate to your pussy and casual sex?

Translation: she enjoys the Long Dong and gets rid of any unwanted consequences? Just a wild guess

Nomennovum said...

"How does this relate to your pussy and casual sex?"

It does. It does. So just leave it at that and don't ask again.

Tim said...

"What's your excuse?"

She likes Obama.

People who like Obama are stupid like people have never been before.

No other excuse or explanation required.

Paddy O said...

The students deserve a prorated refund. Paid for by the Obama campaign.

And yes, I'm serious.

X said...

Worth every dime of tuition to see the President at your college.

I'll be there with


without paying a dime of tuition. but it's worth every dime to someone who pays it. do you have any more valuation insights?

Paddy O said...

"Worth every dime of tuition to see the President at your college."

Maybe. But that's not your choice to make for every student. That's not what they are paying for and for many students it really isn't as big of a deal as it is to you.

Ann Althouse said...

"how about suing? Wouldn't that be a great exercise for your students? Not that I know what you have them do in class, but some kind of assignment like:"

Sorry, I am retired from the practice of law and my license was in New York, not Wisconsin. I don't litigate under such circumstances... unlike some other lady lawprofs.

carrie said...

They should protest the cancellation just like the conservative high school kids did when the teachers' unions caused schools to close in Wisconsin.

carrie said...

Also, my son had midterm exams this week. I wonder if any exams are cancelled.

DADvocate said...

Protest the cancellation of classes.

YES!! Students pay to get daily indoctrinatiion from their professors, not listen to some political hack wanting to get re-elected after leading the country into economic ruin and destroying many civil liberties.

coketown said...

Slow news day. Here's some Breaking News from the home front: The honey crisp apple I just ate had both the flavor and consistency of watermelon. It felt unnatural--the worst fears of GM crops, fully realized on my palate.

Regarding the post, I find it refreshing that UW-Madison admits this is a campaign stop and they're doing everything they can to accommodate. At least there's one liberal institution that doesn't pretend to be unbiased.

Most other liberal institutions, like the press, feign objectivity. They're honey crisp apples with the flavor and consistency of watermelon. Call it what you want, and sure I bet if you closed your eyes you could be convinced that it's watermelon--but we all know they're honey crisp apples.

Kelly said...

I would go despite the fact that I didn't vote for him the first time and won't vote for home the second time. It isn't every day you get to see a President.

When we lived at Fort Hood, Bill Clinton held a campaign rally for Hillaryin Killeen.

I took my daughter, she was about 10 yrs old at the time. It was the first time I'd ever seen a President, former or otherwise, in person. I was practically on the stage so few people were there. He brought a long Ted Danson..some aide that was warming up the crowd was trashing the wars, he asked if anyone knew a soldier that had died. Practically all of us raised our hands because it was an Army community. Something the aide apparently had forgotten because his response was, "wow, that's a lot of you." We'll no duh, idiot.

coketown said...

It's surprising how many slow news days we've had since Obama was inaugurated. US embassy attacked and our ambassador killed? YAWN!!!

chickelit said...

Of course, the students don't have to attend. But they will.

The student are incurring the debt by pulling the lever for Obama. They may as well own it.

Chip Ahoy said...

The president visited Regis several times. Not just this president. I don't know why Regis is a college they visit, but Regis tells me about it all the time in their constant begging, plus the helicopter traffic increases and it's the big whop whop whop whop whop helicopters not the thipthipthipthipthip helicopters, but the bastards, BASTARDS! never invited me, not once.

No soup for you!

And that attitude, eeewww, that just get's me.

McTriumph said...

I know what I'd do if classes were cancelled, but then when I went to school the drinking age was 18 in Kansas.

damikesc said...

Worth every dime of tuition to see the President at your college.

Wouldn't it be lovely if the people paying could come to that conclusion themselves?

How many can say they were at a Presidential visit, or Presidential rally, whatever?

Given that he's had multiple rallies in that area since 2008 --- plenty.

Enjoy the experience, break out the cameras, and post great pictures.

Provided you have appropriate documentation. The kind that is hella-racist to ask for in the voting booth, but is a small price to pay to see Teh Won!

Somebody is taking over a place where people live and forcing them to accept the annoyance of a moron who will make them living their life hell for multiple hours because he needs his ego stroked.

But, hey, the whole idea of universities being lockstep Progressives is just silly...

Chip Ahoy said...

When I move I don't tell Regis and they're the first beggars to find me. 4 times.

Anonymous said...

That's true Paddy, I'm speaking for myself and the tuition I paid for my daughter to attend UW. It would've been worth it to my daughter and myself if a President were to have visited ( and classes were cancelled) while she was a student there, to have the opportunity of a lifetime most likely.

I'm sure if it were to have been a Republican President we wouldn't hear the same bellyaching.

Balfegor said...

Re: Inga:

Worth every dime of tuition to see the President at your college. How many can say they were at a Presidential visit, or Presidential rally, whatever? Enjoy the experience, break out the cameras, and post great pictures.

I live in DC, so that does not really sound all that exciting for me. If I had wanted to, I suppose I could have gone and hissed Obama at the inauguration (but that would have been bad form). More generally, though, we oughtn't be in such awe of our elected servants.

Balfegor said...

Re: Inga:

I'm sure if it were to have been a Republican President we wouldn't hear the same bellyaching.

Oh you'd hear it. From the professors.

Anonymous said...

The same amount of bellyaching from the commentariat, Althouse might still have been pissed.

Sal said...

No. They don't get to enjoy the visit unless they give up their personal information to the campaign.

The only real piece of personal information they have to give up is their email. Then they can unsubscribe. Also - no, they will not need their id to get in. Sheesh.

As for classes being missed - I'm not so cool with that, though I don't doubt there are other classrooms on campus that can be utilized. Or Google+ for smaller groups, if you're so inclined (probably not).

Shouting Thomas said...

A Republican president, by definition, wouldn't have received this invitation and endorsement from UW, Inga.

Jesus, but you are a blockhead.

Matt Sablan said...

Please, Romney can't even put his trash on the curb without someone complaining about him. If people were to inconvenience others for him, we'd hear no end of it.

SteveR said...

I could have walked across the street (literally less than 50 yards) to shake hands with Clinton in 2002. Passed

carrie said...

Couldn't they have held that rally at Camp Randall, the Field House or the Kohl Center without cancelling classes? All three of those venues are easier to secure than Bascom Hill too, but then I guess you have the problem of empty seats on camera if the crowd is small. Shouldn't the University pick the venue that causes the least disruption to classes?

Matt Sablan said...

"The only real piece of personal information they have to give up is their email."

-- And their first and last name, home ZIP code and phone number. All of which are personal information.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Hey Chip:

I had two Regis grads renting an apt from me, here in Philly, for 2-3 years. They were really nice kids. They moved back to CO after the husband got transferred bak there.

Matt Sablan said...

Wait... this is -this- Thursday? As in, two days away?

Yeah. The odds of pulling together alternative accommodations for the classes are practically nil. I thought it was next week and was going to say, sure, maybe other places could be found. But, in two days? With things still up in the air?

Completely unfair to the students who either don't want to attend or want to go to class. I'm sure this will in no way make Republican students uncomfortable.

jrberg3 said...

"I'm sure if it were to have been a Republican President we wouldn't hear the same bellyaching."

And why would you think that?

"Worth every dime of tuition to see the President at your college. How many can say they were at a Presidential visit, or Presidential rally, whatever? Enjoy the experience, break out the cameras, and post great pictures."

When I was in college, the first President Bush came to speak, of course the University didn't shut down and it was on a Saturday. And seeing that (which I couldn't due to other commitments) would hardly have been worth the cost of a day's tuition.

It seems silly to choose such a location that inconveniences so many who have already paid to be there.

Paddy O said...

"I'm sure if it were to have been a Republican President we wouldn't hear the same bellyaching."

The nice thing about the two party system is that we'd almost certainly hear the same amount of bellyaching, just not from the same people.

Amartel said...

"The only real piece of personal information they have to give up is their email."

"-- And their first and last name, home ZIP code and phone number. All of which are personal information."

From the people claiming that showing photo id to vote is a return to Nazi Germany. And racist.

Matt Sablan said...

Heh. This site (http://www.news.wisc.edu/21107) calls it an "afternoon speech."

coketown said...

Also - no, they will not need their id to get in. Sheesh.

Where did you get this information? Did you do what the left normally does and make it up? Is the source of this information an anti-Islam film found on YouTube?

My guess is that nobody is getting close to the president with nothing more than a ticket acquired by providing an email address provided to Bozo for America. Bozo at least has a history of demanding photo IDs from people who want to see him speak.

Mick said...

You may have access to ask the Usurper the question "law prof" (since the "law prof" apparently doesn't know). What is a natural born Citizen?

The is no law, and no Constitution when the President is illegal-- since he is the executor of the law.

MadisonMan said...

wouldn't have received this invitation

I'm pretty sure that the UW did not invite Obama here. It just said okay when Obama's campaign asked when it was looking for a friendly space to rebound, possibly, from a lousy debate.

Too bad the weather won't cooperate.

Synova said...

"Bozo at least has a history of demanding photo IDs from people who want to see him speak."

That and collecting the silverware.

Honestly... I'd expect any event with the President to require ID. It's only a "thing" because of the hypocrisy.

Merriweather said...

Why are you "surprised," Ann? It's entirely predictable, and you -- with your logic skills -- should not be surprised by this kind of taxpayer-funded stunt.

After all, this is the administration that just flouted the WARN law, which requires companies to give 60 days' notice of upcoming layoffs -- AND said the government (taxpayers) will pay future legal fees if the companies are later sued for breaking the WARN law. Hide the layoffs till after the election; bribe the companies with government money. Exploit the resources of a public university for a campaign rally.

All in a day's work for our campaigner-in-chief's

Synova said...

I wonder if Obama uses a hand sanitizer after shaking hands with white people from Madison.

chickelit said...

MadisonMan said...

I'm pretty sure that the UW did not invite Obama here. It just said okay when Obama's campaign asked when it was looking for a friendly space to rebound, possibly, from a lousy debate.

In other words, they merely affirmed his actions.


Anonymous said...

Carrie said "I wonder if any exams were cancelled?". Considering Eric Holder allegedly protested his final exams the first two years of college, I can't see that Obama and company would see this as a problem.

garage mahal said...

Wrong on facts. Jealousy. Whining. Faux concern. Weird red herrings. And a sprinkle of slut shaming. This thread has it all.

Michael K said...

""Frame the lawsuit against Barack Obama, his campaign, and/or the University for theft of services due to the campaign appearance. What torts were committed? What is a reasonable estimate of compensatory and punitive damages?""

I would suggest waiting to see if the Obama campaign declares the cost of a day's tuition as a contribution and then file a complaint if they don't.

Speaking of being excited to see a president, my daughter-in-law was in Boston spending a couple of days with her best friend who lived on Beacon Hill. They were chatting in their jammies about midnight when they heard a commotion nearby. It was 2004 and Kerry was coming home to his mansion on Louisburg Square from a day of campaigning. They threw on robes and slippers and ran down a couple of blocks to see the excitement.

Well, here come a couple of cute girls in jammies and robes so, of course, they were quickly surrounded by cops and secret service. They hung around for almost an hour being regaled with stories about John and Teresa's drunken fights. The cops got called to that house about once a week.

John Hawks said...

Ann --

I was in a meeting today and told that the campaign is paying the University for the use of the grounds. The admin said that ESPN in town for the football games pays under the same conditions. They further said that Obama as President could not appear on Bascom Mall, because the University cannot charge the President as such, but as Candidate can appear because of the payment.

I have no idea if this is correct, but would be interested how much money is being exchanged.

Anonymous said...

Classes schmases, test schmests, who goes to school to learn anyways?

SteveR said...

Wrong on facts

Coming from you Garage, that is the ultimate irony.

John Hawks said...

Also, the appearance is disrupting at least one Physics midterm which affects 1000 students, and the administration is still working to reschedule it. The official word at this point is that no classes will be canceled, and all those on Bascom Mall that day are to be relocated to other buildings.

Anonymous said...

If what John Hawks states is correct, that the Obama campaign is paying, then I surely hope the University will be using that money to reimburse students for cancelled classes rather than lining the pockets of administrators.

John Hawks said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe Schmoe said...

Another day to party. I don't know if you folks have been on a state college campus in the last, I don't know, 50 years, but I can tell you with near-certainty that the students will be pumped to have a day off. I predict quite a campus-wide bacchanalia that day. Students protesting that classes have been cancelled? When's the last time that happened? Let's hope some enterprising frat boys convince Barry to let them give him a booze enema.

David said...

Exploited?

You know they want it. Consenting adults and all that.

Plus, when the king comes to visit, all must bow.

Especially university administrations who want their federal funding.

Anonymous said...

leslyn said...
And if it were Mitt coming to town? Here or anywhere else?"

It wouldn't matter. No one gives a crap.

Kurt said...

Your first and third choices on the survey suggest but omit an even more appealing option: celebrate the cancellation of classes by volunteering to help the Romney-Ryan campaign that day. If Romney and Ryan are going to win Wisconsin, it would help immensely if they could limit the margin of victory for Obama in Madison. After all, as long as the university is assisting Obama in this way, students who don't care for another four years of this disastrous administration should use the time to assist Romney.

MrCharlie2 said...

riffing on an earlier comment:

how about, a few hours before the blessed event, Romney campaign trucks in many trucks full of many beer kegs; distributes kegs to who ever wants; let nature take it's course.

your students would like Romney a lot for that

MrCharlie2 said...

Romney campaign wouldn't want to do that of course (blowback from the debauchery), so get a super pac to do it. Better than recruiting a gang of congenital morons for a counter-rally

Unknown said...

I teach at two universities in south Mississippi that each cater to a fairly even mix of traditional and nontraditional students. All of my classes are night classes. You have not seen pissed off until you see a student in a night class who shows up only to learn class has been canceled due.to some political BS.

Synova said...

"Also, the appearance is disrupting at least one Physics midterm which affects 1000 students, and the administration is still working to reschedule it. The official word at this point is that no classes will be canceled, and all those on Bascom Mall that day are to be relocated to other buildings."

Do Physics students vote with their emotions?

Anonymous said...

chickelit said...
"Translation: she enjoys the Long Dong and gets rid of any unwanted consequences? Just a wild guess"

I can see the braintrusts of the GOP are out in full force. ... and most certainly chickelit, you are an unwanted consequence....

bagoh20 said...

"Bag is getting ready to apply his chapstick posthaste"

Hey Methadras, It's Inga in da house, or as she appears to you, the legions of Hitler spread before your singular brave warrior self.

In a world where one man, one warrior, one cause, stands alone against the Nazi hordes of the powerful Inga the Great, a woman so dangerous that she must be destroyed at first sight, before her powerful voice of overwhelming rhetorical force gets a head of steam, and destroys us all.

Hell, all you gotta do is tell her you disagree and why - she's just a girl. They really aren't that scary.

Meade said...

Lindsey Meadows said...
leslyn said...
And if it were Mitt coming to town? Here or anywhere else?"

It wouldn't matter. No one gives a crap.


That's true. And why should they?

But who really gives a crap about Obama either? And should they?

Icepick said...

Timing the rally for a Thursday is brilliant. Most students will still have classes on Friday so they'll stick around. If the rally were on a Friday many students (and professors and staff) would just leave after their last class on Thursday.

Baron Zemo said...

She is not a "girl."

She is a woman.

Give her that respect.

Icepick said...

And yes, the students with classes on Thursday should be given some money back for the missed day. The reimbursement should come from Obama's campaign.

DADvocate said...

I saw Kennedy and Nixon in person, maybe Johnson. Really didn't think it was that big a deal and never put forth any effort to see a president again. I'm more excited about getting Johnny Cash's autograph after he did a concert at Eastern State Psychiatric Hospistal in Knoxville where I workded as a psychiatirc aide.

Anonymous said...

Synova said...
I wonder if Obama uses a hand sanitizer after shaking hands with white people from Madison."


are you local? i can see the need for the sanitizer....

Baron Zemo said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bagoh20 said...

Do you think anyone at the UW actually pushed back at the suggestion of all this? If they did, did that objection take more than 5 seconds of debate to dismiss? Was the word "racist" used?

Meade said...

"Sorry, I am retired from the practice of law and my license was in New York, not Wisconsin. I don't litigate under such circumstances... unlike some other lady lawprofs."

Okay but are you sure you don't want to give a try? I hear there is a lot of money in it. Maybe no one will notice that you don't have a license, you'll get away with it, rake in millions, and then you can run for Senate. What could go wrong?

Icepick said...

I'm more excited about getting Johnny Cash's autograph after he did a concert at Eastern State Psychiatric Hospistal in Knoxville ...

Really?

... where I workded as a psychiatirc aide.

Uh-huh. "Worked." Is that what they call it these days?

(I keed! I keed!)

chickelit said...

Lindsey Meadows said...

I can see the braintrusts of the GOP are out in full force. ... and most certainly chickelit, you are an unwanted consequence...

I knew she liked me...enough to not strangle and flush me.
All I am saying is give shit a chance.

Synova said...

Linsey, politicians use hand sanitizer a bazillion times a day. It's the only way to not end up ill on the campaign trail.

But there was a "thing" about how when Obama (as jr-jr-Senator) ended up at the end of a receiving line and George W Bush offered to share his hand sanitizer... a "thing" like... Oooooo... black cooties, ew! As if Bush had acted in a racially insulting way.

Just random brain noise.

chickelit said...

Meade mused: What could go wrong?

Practicing license without a law?

garage mahal said...

I can see the braintrusts of the GOP are out in full force. ... and most certainly chickelit, you are an unwanted consequence...

ZINGER!

bagoh20 said...

"She is a woman.

Give her that respect."


Hey, she's already got people scared all to hell, I was trying to ease the fear. The troops are just spraying their ammo without even aiming. It's pandemonium when she comes over the hill. Pandemonium, I tell you!

Nomennovum said...

I don't know. She could do some damage with that nose, Chickelit.

Nomennovum said...

ZINGER!

Hardly, but I'm sure she really likes you.

dc said...

Althouse

Hide the dogs

chickelit said...

@Synova: Lindsey loathes tit for tat like that, even if she's smart enough to remember. Anyways, projecting bigotry onto Bush by Obama was probably OK in her book.

Cedarford said...

Think of it as a liberal would.
An hour in the aura of Obama Himself has been known to put certain cancers in remssion and raise the IQ's of certain oppressed minorities and women denied free ObamaPhones and free birth control in the past.

Obama will bring social justice and make sure that liberal arts students who cannot find jobs after graduating U of Wisconsin get free grad school or the right to live with their parents until 26 and get free Obamacare and other free stuff!!

And there is the matter of knowledge being pretty worthless unless it is deployed in the cause of organizing, then transforming society and achieving fairness and adequately addressing group grievances.


What is a day of missed classes compared to that!!

Methadras said...

garage mahal said...

Wrong on facts. Jealousy. Whining. Faux concern. Weird red herrings. And a sprinkle of slut shaming. This thread has it all.


Not yet. We don't have pics of your mom being put before the cart.

Meade said...

chickelit said...
"Meade mused: What could go wrong?

Practicing license without a law?"

Ha. There oughta be a license.

chickelit said...

garage mahal slings:

ZINGER!

It's true. I am a persona non grating for the most part.

I wield back the balance of my ax to disgruntled libs.

blessings, take care

Icepick said...

I've seen three Presidents in person. I saw Ronald Reagan at EPCOT for his 1984 Inaugural Parade. (The one in DC was cancelled due to weather, so a few months later they did it down here in Florida.) I got to see him from less than 30 feet away as he drove by in a Presidential limo.

I saw George H. W. Bush twice. Once in the White House from about 10 feet away (pure luck, the family was taking a tour and he unexpectedly showed up with some ambassador from some African nation) and once at Daytona International Speedway during the race in July. I may have even been within 1000 feet at that time!

(Funny/strange story from that one. Our tickets were for the stands right behind the pit road in the infield. Awesome seats! So as we approached the tunnel for the infield in a Ford Explorer we were questioned by the Secret Service. "Do you have any firearms in your vehicle?" "No, sir." "No bazookas or anything like that?" "No, sir!" "Carry on." That was it! Like we would have answered "Yes" if we were bringing in a bazooka! And who the Hell was talking about bazookas in 1992?! Very strange incident, but I guess the guy sized us up with a 14 and 10 year-old in the car as well as people up in their 60s and assessed us as "NOT terrorists".)

And I once saw George W. Bush at a campaign rally. I still can't believe I went to one of those things.

All in all it was kind of neat, but not awe inspiring. They are, after all, just men.

Now my sister, when she was little, once got to sit in JFK's chair behind his desk in the Oval Office. That happened through a series of happy accidents, and if anything like that were to happen today it would be a major security breech complete with drone strikes on the houses of everyone in the family.

Mom and Dad lived in DC back in the early 1950s. Dad was out taking a morning walk one morning and bumped into someone on the street. Dad said something along the lines of "Hey, watch it buddy!", took a few steps and stopped. He turned around and there stood President Truman (who was found of walks), hands on hips, just glaring at Dad! Dad muttered apologies and scrammed!

I've also wondered about the time Nixon wandered out of the White House one night to visit some protestors over at the Lincoln Memorial. How strange that must have been for the protestors!

Unknown said...

After viewing the "poll" results, my opinion that the majority of Althouse readers are dimwits has been confirmed.

Meade said...

"It's true. I am a persona non grating for the most part."

I can abort you if you'd like. "Unwanted consequence" that you are and all.

Just give me the word and... snip, snip, snap.

Meade said...

Jake Diamond said...
"After viewing the "poll" results, my opinion that the majority of Althouse readers are dimwits has been confirmed."

Thanks, Jake, but no one cares about your opinion except you.

Amartel said...

"Also - no, they will not need their id to get in. Sheesh."

So far they need an email account.
(Raaaaaaacisssssssm. Because black people are all pooooooor and don't have compuuuuuttterrs)

Wait and see: I bet Identification ("show us yer papers") will be required at the gate.

Penny said...

Freshman will be disproportionally represented. Hell, anything and anybody is exciting to a Freshman.

Seniors and Grad Students have pretty much become cynical "adults", nearing that special "adult" moment when they will live in their parents' homes again.

Baron Zemo said...

Meade is very frisky today.

aanjheni said...

There aren't a lot of classes held on a Friday. They found that students didn't like taking classes that interrupted their 3-day weekend. Well, make that a 4-day weekend. They don't like taking classes on Mondays either. Most classes are held T-R.

I teach downtown on Thurs night. I wonder if traffic will still be bad by then.

chickelit said...

Baron Zemo said...
Meade is very frisky today.

He's groping alright...for words.

MarkD said...

It's been a while since I went, but those students paid hundreds of dollars each for that classroom time. It hey don't mind being cheated out of that by the Obama campaign, who am I to complain?

Unknown said...

Thanks, Jake, but no one cares about your opinion except you.

Actually, Meade, I have a fan club. What you meant to write is that none of the Althouse dumbshits care about my opinion.

Anonymous said...

And my classical nose leads the way Baggy!

Run all you macho men, run for your lives!

And to NoNoNovum, really man, no wonder, I don't blame her.

coolkevs said...

Let us not forget that Obama did not show up for the recall - oh wait, the UW students were out of school on June 5, so maybe that's why he didn't show up. Not enough fawning and doting, I guess...

Baron Zemo said...

It must be performance review time.

Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha!

Methadras said...

Meade said...

chickelit said...
"Meade mused: What could go wrong?

Practicing license without a law?"

Ha. There oughta be a license.


Not if you are Elizabeth Warren.

Methadras said...

Lindsey Meadows said...

I can see the braintrusts of the GOP are out in full force. ... and most certainly chickelit, you are an unwanted consequence....


Ah, the other democrat skid mark makes her appearance. Careful now honey, you might be careful about taking some of the spotlight from Inga.

Nomennovum said...

God, Inga. I wasn't referring to you or your nose.

You really are something, my silly narcissist.

MadisonMan said...

Back in 1950, when Truman came to town, Mom and Dad lived in an apartment on University -- where the Burger King used to be (that is, the apartments were torn down to make way for the Burger King, and the BK met a similar fate 5 or 10 years ago). HST's open convertible went right under their window.

Dad was also waved at by Princess Elizabeth when he was in London during WWII.

I saw Ford, I think it was, at PSU -- he walked right past me in the stairwell of the HUB.

And that is the sum total of my family's brushes with power, I guess.

I will steer very clear of Bascom. Maybe I'll use the webcams on campus to view the lines.

Anonymous said...

Methie, I happen to adore Lindsey, she and I have had the pleasure of tag teaming a few times, that was fun, eh Lindsey?

furious_a said...

I can't believe the University is shutting down, closing buildings such as the Law School, depriving us of the rooms for regularly scheduled classes, for an entire day, to accommodate a campaign rally.

It's all-hands-on-deck for the SCOAMF-in-Chief.

Will there be fake doctors' notes for University staff so they can worship at taxpayer expense?

Methadras said...

bagoh20 said...

"Bag is getting ready to apply his chapstick posthaste"

Hey Methadras, It's Inga in da house, or as she appears to you, the legions of Hitler spread before your singular brave warrior self.

In a world where one man, one warrior, one cause, stands alone against the Nazi hordes of the powerful Inga the Great, a woman so dangerous that she must be destroyed at first sight, before her powerful voice of overwhelming rhetorical force gets a head of steam, and destroys us all.

Hell, all you gotta do is tell her you disagree and why - she's just a girl. They really aren't that scary.


Yeah, you see, you've kinda blown your wad on this little narrative you've concocted now. I realize you probably wrote this on a wad of toilet paper while you were sitting on a toilet giving it your all, but I mean, I'd say something to her if she actually said... something with a modicum of substance. But hey, sorry if I blew the secret of your chapstick use. Maybe you are a carmex user. I don't know. Inga ass kissing sure takes a lot of practice. Keep it up, your doing swell, puckerboy.

You might want to keep a roll of that roll of toilet paper on hand to wipe her brown from your nose.

X said...

I bumped into Snake Plissken once at Skydome.

X said...

He saved 2 presidents.

WineSlob said...

In the Liberal Tradition of Bascom
Barry Offers Words for the Trash Can
Karleton Armstrong's a Hero
Ronald Reagan's a Zero
His Favorite Song's the Only Question They'll Ask 'Em.

furious_a said...

Troofer Allie: I happen to adore Lindsey, she and I have had the pleasure of tag teaming a few times...

Just threw up a little bit in my mouth.

Cedarford said...

Yep, Obama's Campaign, just like renaming Lifeline phones as ObamaPhobes and advertising them as such in target black, hispanic, and youth demographics is ACTUALLY running on a message to women:

Vote for Obama like your lady parts depended on it! (because they sort of do)


http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/02/Obama-Campaign-Lady-Parts

From Obama's official Tumblr Site, you can get a ecard of a woman voting with the caption below (whoops, since taken down but preserved in screen capture of a woman voting with the save your lady parts message below it)

Ladies, as Ensler the Hallowed Icon would say:
Shout out you "Love Your Cunt!!"
Shout out that Republicans will not assail lady parts reserved for your Boyfriend Obama!!
Shout out "4 More Years for Our Obama!"

Anonymous said...

Foaming_A, not that kind of tag teaming, you dope. Oh but you knew that right?

Meade said...

Well done, WineSlob!

"I saw Ford, I think it was, at PSU -- he walked right past me in the stairwell of the HUB."

I was at a fundraiser dinner with John Edwards in 2007. Can you tell how not thrilled I still am?

Baron Zemo said...

That would be most unsightly tag team since the Adorable Adrian Adonis and Cowboy Bob Orton.

Tim said...

"They've paid their tuition for classes, which they're not getting, and their bodies are repurposed for political exploitation."

Speaking of bodies, smart guys will take their girlfriends home instead and do to them what Obama promises to their futures.

If you have a US Government and UW sanctioned day off school, spend it in bed with your girlfriend.

She might even have birth control paid for by the rest of us.

Sofa King said...

Worth every dime of tuition to see the President at your college. How many can say they were at a Presidential visit, or Presidential rally, whatever? Enjoy the experience, break out the cameras, and post great pictures.

??? It's not especially hard to get tickets to a campaign rally. What kind of silliness is this?

Anonymous said...

LMAO, coming from a guy hiding his man boobs under a purple stretchy suit.

bagoh20 said...

Obama comes to L.A. a lot, but he don't hang with you here for less than 6 figures. In Madison, he's just doing a little slumming like them Dems do. Gettin down with the regular folks. You know he hates this part, don't you?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Now that their intentions are clear and in the open...

The Obama campaign should reimburse the students and the University... otherwise its an undeclared political campaign contribution.

Otherwise, this is blatant political corruption... at a University no less.

X said...

I am not shocked that Inga wants to attend a large political rally of a national leader who has socialist tendencies.

Methadras said...

Baron Zemo said...

That would be most unsightly tag team since the Adorable Adrian Adonis and Cowboy Bob Orton.


What? No Brutus Beefcake action?

Anonymous said...

Sofa King, someone said that the students were losing tuition money because of cancelled classes that day, that why I said it was worth the loss of a days tuition, I was speaking for myself, my daughter graduated from UW, I paid her tuition. It's a chance to see an Incumbant President, that is a special occasion, no matter what party he/ she belongs to.

I know there is no charge for the tickets.

Baron Zemo said...

She wants to tag team him.

As do most of the liberal raisins who bask in his sun.

Anonymous said...

Bagoh, not as much as Romney would hate it.

rhhardin said...

A Morons for Obama sign would be nice.

Nomennovum said...

"Vote for Obama like your lady parts depended on it! (because they sort of do)"

Hey, if penises can disappear in Sudan from shaking hands with a West African, vaginas can disappear in the US from electing a Mormon president.

And that's a fact.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Everybody keeps referring to somebody named Inga..

Is than an Obama mistress?

furious_a said...

Troofer Allie: "Worth every dime of tuition to see the President at your college."

Teh Stupid is strong with this one.

Sofa King said...

It's a chance to see an Incumbant President, that is a special occasion, no matter what party he/ she belongs to.

It really isn't, not on a campaign rally, that's just silly talk. If you were seeing the President on *business* or some kind of official capacity, that would be something. If you were meeting him personally, that might be something. Seeing a President at a campaign rally is nothing. It's one step above seeing him on TV.

Nomennovum said...

"Is than an Obama mistress?"

Hey, that's racist!

Baron Zemo said...

But it would be worth it when he passes out the loaves and the fishes.

Amartel said...

I saw Carter (of course, just my luck) in person when he was visiting his kid at college. Amy was showing him the mailroom. He's really tiny. Secret Service presence barely noticeable.

edutcher said...

You could always organize a witches' Sabbath, complete with bonfire and female faculty dancing around it, the highlight being a spell cast where all women will look like Michelle to Barry if he doesn't stay away.

bagoh20 said...

I think Obama will do his best work and be most valuable as an Ex-President. No man has ever deserved that as much as him. He's worked just the right amount to earned it. Kinda like that Nobel prize. After he's out, we can get those oceans rising again. Another 100 feet I'll be living on the beach. Woohoo!

leslyn said...

Silly rabbits. Both campaigns have been using colleges for campaign rallies.

You think this is new??

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The most "transparent" administration ever?

X said...

something tells me tonight's race speech will be bigger.

Cedarford said...

I note that U of Madison is one of the few places where an individual burning the "Red, White, and Blue" would be pounded to a pulp as Unpatriotic by Leftist students and union goons doing event security.
No, not the US Flag - which has been burned on many occasions in Madison with various liberals calling the dissent patriotic. Our greatest strength being the diversity to embrace flag-burners and celebrate their rights..

No, not that flag.
I'm talking about anyone who would dare burn the Obama Flag!

furious_a said...

How many can say they were at a Presidential visit, or Presidential rally, whatever? Enjoy the experience, break out the cameras, and post great pictures...

...join with the Dear Leader as he leads the Happy Children in song!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Both campaigns have been using colleges for campaign rallies.

Past performance is not indicative of future... corruption.

Amartel said...

Obama flies over my house every time he comes to the Bay Area for campaign donations, which is frequently. It's the only reason we ever see him here in Cali. The sound of heavy choppers signals the presence of St. Barry flying over the little people on his way to shake down the techie wealth. I guess I should be thankful that he's helo-ing in instead of jamming up the 101. Ungrateful rube!

gadfly said...

Obama's heavy-handed visits to anywhere since his first day in office has always been appalling.

This summer when he boarded his black bus somewhere in Ohio (he never rides very far on the bus) to storm the small town of Amherst unannounced. The bus driver drove to the tiny downtown and illegally parked the monster bus, shutting down all traffic in and out of the area.

All this BS for this piece of news from Ziggy's Bar where the president imposed himself.

Enter patron Jeff Hawks. Hawks pointed to one of the TVs on the wall and told Obama: "You're in a building that has Fox News on."

Obama, whose White House has Fox News on nearly continuously, suggested that Hawks could ask to change the channel. "The customer is always right," the president said.

"I'll arms-wrestle you for your vote," Hawks told Obama. (The pool report was mum on the relative sizes of the two men). The president demurred. "No," he said. "I'll play basketball for your vote."


And then he was gone.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The cost of shutting down the University for a deay?

Whats the bottom line?

Does anybody know?

Synova said...

I tried to google the information (my google-foo sucketh) and what comes up for "Romney campus visits) is the Univision interview and taping and stuff like "Romney appeared at the wheresit 20 minutes from the UUU campus" and "Obama has appeared at UUU six times".

There were a few campus speeches by tertiary campaigners (Romney's son, fer example) on campuses.

So... campaign rallys on campuses that disrupt classes "they both do it"... I'm going to need some help for my disfunctional google-foo and maybe just a list of campuses that Romeny has visited.

Obama, OTOH, has had a "campus tour".

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


"Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s visit to campus Wednesday will only be open to members of the UM College Republicans or other closely affiliated organizations, according to an email sent on behalf of Patricia Whitely, vice president for student affairs. The other organizations have not been specified.

According to the email, which was sent to students who entered the lottery for tickets to the Romney event, the Romney campaign requested that tickets not be distributed to students who do not belong to the aforementioned organizations.

Romney and President Barack Obama will speak at the BankUnited Center Fieldhouse on Sept. 19 and 20, respectively. Their visits are part of Univision broadcasts, and will be aired on the Spanish-language station after each event."


Editor-in-Chief
Allison Goodman, The Miami Hurricane

Synova said...

I mentioned the Univision taping, Inga.

It's actually the only "Romney on campus" that came up when I tried to look. And it wasn't a rally. There were tickets to the taping available but they were severely limited. (Plus it was in spanish.)

So sure... "both candidates do" spanish language television interveiws on college campuses.

Anonymous said...

http://www.themiamihurricane.com/2012/09/14/tickets-for-romneys-campus-visit-available-only-for-um-college-republicans/

Link for quote from the Miami Hurricane.

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