२५ फेब्रुवारी, २०११

"And if Scott Walker gets in our way, we're gonna roll right over him," yells a protester in the Wisconsin Capitol on Thursday.



Meade did the video-recording  on Thursday, and I edited things down to 4 1/2 minutes. The quote in the post title begins the montage. Look for the group of schoolchildren dragged through the crowd — they appear twice — and the baby with a sign. There are 2 men in ridiculous costumes, one of which speaks of violence with a sign reading "Gore Walker" on a helmet that has big bull horns sticking out of it. It took us a moment to get it, because "Gore" made us think of Al Gore, but "gore" with horns — and don't they look blood-reddened? — signifies a grisly piercing.

११७ टिप्पण्या:

Birkel म्हणाले...

They're paraphrasing Pauline Kael's apocryphal "quote". They don't know anybody who voted for Scott Walker.

Therefore, Scott Walker has no supporters.

QED the unionists will win.

Alex म्हणाले...

Truly disgusting. I'd need to take a shower immediately after watching this video.

Alex म्हणाले...

btw, I was FRIST.

Prosecutorial Indiscretion म्हणाले...

What a bunch of weird tribal bullshit.

अनामित म्हणाले...

Bunch of losers. This must be a field trip in the kids' mandatory lessons in union history.

William म्हणाले...

I don't agree with the strikers--if you can even call sickouters strikers--but they all look decent and agreeable enough. It takes an inflamed sense of politics to demonize such people. The narcissism of small differences. By the same token, it would take an inflamed sense of politics to sanctify such a struggle. They're not Harlan County coal miners struggling for a living wage and a sense of dignity....There's a new day yawning in Madison. This is to labor disputes what ice fishing is to winter sports.

Methadras म्हणाले...

Further proof that leftards are nothing more than emotional basket cases throwing a giant temper tantrum. Leftards are going to have to explain what they are being asked to do as state employees vs. the interests of the other private sector employees that pay for them.

AlphaLiberal म्हणाले...

That is one dumb-ass argument, Ann.

That's a figure of speech, it is nowhere near violent.

You are really reaching. Hysterical.

AlphaLiberal म्हणाले...

Really, Althouse, what is your allegation? That this man is saying we should roll over Walker with what?

A steam roller? A log? What else is the weapon you think being brandished here?

And where are all the liberals and Democrats out there with steam rollers and logs?

It's a fucking metaphor. Like "railroad" as in "the Republicans railroaded their bill through in the dead of night."

Contrast to your darling right wingers, carrying firearms to rallies, the Tea Party in Atlanta openly calling for people to attend a labor rally with hidden weapons, open talk of shooting people they disagree with.

If you can't see the difference between the two, you have no business teaching anybody anything. Unfit!

DUMB!

Michael म्हणाले...

Alpha: it would be like saying you Should "target" your opposition for defeat, right? What kind of moron would mistake that metaphor for a call to violence? What kind of illiterate writer or journalist would be stupid enough to confuse a figure of speech for a real vall to violence?

अनामित म्हणाले...
ही टिप्पणी लेखकाना हलविली आहे.
अनामित म्हणाले...

"Wisconsin Assembly passes bill stripping
public workers of collective bargaining rights"
(CNN)

The sky is not falling, imagine that.

One down,56 to go.

Lori म्हणाले...

The emotionalism of the unions and teachers over this issue is truly embarrassing, especially when you realize their cause is themselves. Teachers in other states seem to be making a living just fine without collective bargaining.

The outpouring of union quasi-religious songs and drum-beating (war cry anyone?) is a shock to Americans who feel they owe allegiance to their God, their country, and their fellow citizens before elevating their own positions.


The "disappeared" legislators are a disgrace. At this point, they would have to sneak into the state building, as to come in through the protesters would appear to be crossing a strike line. This is surely intimidation of violence to stop them from voting.

Unknown म्हणाले...

Damn!!!

I missed Alpha (although God knows I've taken enough shots at him).

When somebody says, "Gore Walker" (although exposing the Gov to the Living Redwood is a fate I'd wish on no man), it's 'nowhere near violent'.

I'd just like to know how Alpha/Montaigne/Freder reacts to the Lefty union goons who've threatened and abused in the past few days blacks, homosexuals, Jews, and, of course, that hero who punched Tabitha Hale in the face.

अनामित म्हणाले...

A man who knows how to treat the downtrodden public workers. Somebody the NEA can get behind.

'Libyan gov't announces increase in wages, food subsidies'
By JPOST.COM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS
02/25/2011 14:00

Reports say Gaddafi will raise public sector wages to 150% in bid to maintain power; .....
In a bid to hold on to power, the Libyan government announced on Friday that it plans to raise wages, increase food subsidies and give special allowances for all families, according to Reuters quoting Libyan TV reports.

The reports said that every family will receive about $400 to help cover increased food prices, and that salaries for some public sector workers would increase by 150 percent.

Humperdink म्हणाले...

@Alpha "A steam roller? A log? What else is the weapon you think being brandished here?

And where are all the liberals and Democrats out there with steam rollers and logs? "

Palin .... Sarah Palin. Remember her Alpha? The one who put cross hairs on map prior to the election. A MAP!! And then was blamed by your compadres in the media for days after the Giffords shooting.

That's why you and your buddies in the MSM have zero cred.

ricpic म्हणाले...

William - These "decent and agreeable" people have been participants in the bankrupting of Wisconsin and the nation. Are they for the most part unknowing sheeple? Yes. And so what? Fools can be just as dangerous as the knaves who herd them.

Shanna म्हणाले...

The emotionalism of the unions and teachers over this issue is truly embarrassing, especially when you realize their cause is themselves.

Exactly. They aren't demonstrating for the children or the future or anything. All they are doing is looking out for number one. Understandable, but hardly noble.

Also, there are a boatload of right to work states already. It's not that bad. You don't have to fork over a bunch of money to the union each paycheck if you don't want to. It's hardly the end of the world. Sheesh.

GMay म्हणाले...

Alpha knows what time it is. When the right does it, it's violent rhetoric which must be suppressed at all costs!!11!!eleventy

When the left does it, it's just a metaphor. See?

It's all about the nuance.

Toad Trend म्हणाले...

Welcome to the new civility, as defined by the 2-faced Neanderfucks on the left.

These folks really define knuckle dragging.

But, the R's have always 'knuckled-under' to the demagoguery so I guess its understandable why they carry on like this. It works and will remain effective until the R's grow a pair.

I think its going to be important moving forward that these folks understand their place - thats going to mean putting them in their place.

How? By putting responsible representatives in place (voting, not appointments) that are going to run local government like a business, cut out the waste and be fiscally responsible.

अनामित म्हणाले...

Contrast to your darling right wingers, carrying firearms to rallies, the Tea Party in Atlanta openly calling for people to attend a labor rally with hidden weapons, open talk of shooting people they disagree with.

Notice that the punch of a woman with a camera by a union person and the "blood in the streets" by a Democratic politician go unremarked by you.

I wonder why that is?

अनामित म्हणाले...

Let the hysteria begin:

MADISON, Wis. – Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly took the first significant action on their plan to strip collective bargaining rights from most public workers, abruptly passing the measure early Friday morning before sleep-deprived Democrats realized what was happening.
...
Republicans immediately marched out of the chamber in single file. The Democrats rushed at them, pumping their fists and shouting "Shame!" and "Cowards!"

The Republicans walked past them without responding.

Democrats left the chamber stunned. The protesters greeted them with a thundering chant of "Thank you!" Some Democrats teared up. Others hugged.

"What a terrible, terrible day for Wisconsin," said Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee. "I am incensed. I am shocked."


Aw, poor little Democrats. They're so smart, progressive, and nuanced, yet somehow Republicans just bamboozle them time & again. :-(

alan markus म्हणाले...

What's with taking groups of young students into what looks like a chaotic mob?

Even if the purpose of the visit is for reasons other than this protest, as the parent of a young student, I would be furious at the idea of her being dragged through an unsecured crowd like this. Who knows what kind of characters are lurking in the background - they could be from either side of the issue, or just deviants that are hanging around.

Some of those kids probably have parents who "tether" their youngsters at the mall - wonder what they would think if they saw this video.

Toad Trend म्हणाले...

@Jay

"...sleep-deprived Democrats realized what was happening."

Probably tired from driving all night back from their bender in Illinois.

My heart goes out to them, and I wish them the best.

It is true, 95% of life is just showing up.

"What a terrible, terrible day for Wisconsin," said Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee. "I am incensed. I am shocked."

Notice the obvious disconnect the beleaguered Mr. Richards displays, that is, the disconnect between elections and their consequences.

Hows' it feel?

Bobby Dupea म्हणाले...

The incensed Dem reps:

I thought they agreed to a discussion-and-vote protocol with the Repubs? As in, they could enter a finite number of amendments, would limit discussion to 10 minutes, and then proceed to a floor vote?

Didn't that just happen?

I'm not being disingenuous, I thought what happened was what sides agreed to do.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Democrat reps must have had another diversion or delay tactic that they planned to deploy before the Republicans could commit democracy.

AllenS म्हणाले...

If the lefty commenters on this site are any indication of the left side of the political discussion, they are in some kind of bad shape.

AlphaLiberal म्हणाले...

An audience member at a town hall hosted by Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) on Tuesday asked the Tea Party congressman who was going to shoot President Barack Obama.

The unidentified town hall attendee's question got a big laugh from the audience, reports Blake Aued of the Athens Banner-Herald.

But Broun didn't exactly condemn the remark, according to the newspaper report.


Let me guess... no problem...

Toad Trend म्हणाले...

@Alpha

"...according to the newspaper report."

Right.

Because it was written by one of your guys, it was written with a certain slant. A slant that would not include certain details.

Of course, it goes without saying, that whoever made the statement was not a liberal plant seeking to discredit Rep. Broun.

Because that never happens.

अनामित म्हणाले...

The old:

"hey,motivated by fear, self preservation demands we band together and be heard. Though the consequences may be dire, the consequences of not acting will be far worse."

The new:

"hey, that was a BLAST! So many cool people. Can't wait until tomorrow. Got some killer slogans off the internet, and my girlfriend is bring home sign supplies from her work tonight. My buddy says he's got a box full of them noisy horns they used at the soccer games...we're going to drive them NUTS!"

अनामित म्हणाले...

sleep-deprived Democrats

The ones who were sleep deprived because they had proposed about a hundred amendments to the bill and had been discussing and voting on them for the past two days? Without leaving for the night? Those sleep-deprived Democrats?

अनामित म्हणाले...

questioning for the second time in the night whether the proper procedure had been followed.

The same Democrats whose colleagues in the Senate fled the state? Those Democrats questioned whether proper procedure had been followed? The Dems whose supporters had lied about being sick and then gotten fraudulent doctor's notes? Those Democrats?

Cry me a river.

Automatic_Wing म्हणाले...

Poor sleep-deprived Democrats, LOL.

Automatic_Wing म्हणाले...

We need garage here to bring some serious outrage to this topic. Or is he still mumbling to himself about that prank call?

Humperdink म्हणाले...

@NotYourTypicalNewYorker "One down,56 to go."

The 7 new states The Won created in the last election cycle have been identified : the NEA, SEIU, UAW, AFL-CIO, IBEW, CWA and the USW.

अनामित म्हणाले...

"The Rubicon of Wisconsin"

http://bit.ly/hg6lYd

The die is cast, Dr. K at his best.

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

This is the first of your videos that I actually saw someone I knew -- the lady from Indie Coffee. Like Ian's they've been getting out-of-town donations to pay for coffee for the Protestors. Which is good for the protestors since Indie coffee is great.

अनामित म्हणाले...

@Rick, we can also add the State of Delusion.

galdosiana म्हणाले...

sleep deprived Democrats

This part got me right away. As if the AP doesn't want people to recognize the fact that both Dems and Repubs were in that room for more than 60 hours. But, apparently, only Dems get tired...

Humperdink म्हणाले...

What's sad is they have spent more with Obama than his lovely bride, the health food nut, Gluteus Maxine.

alan markus म्हणाले...

@7:37

"But Broun didn't exactly condemn the remark, according to the newspaper report."

Then I would give him credit for "inexactly" condemning the remark.

Hoosier Daddy म्हणाले...

Good lord. Just raise the income tax a few percentage points on anyone making six figures or more and jack the corporate tax up to a reasonable level and pay these people the wages they deserve.

Seriously, that is exactly what I would do if I was Walker. I'd say ok folks here you go. Every year when the Union wants increases we'll just raise taxes to ensure its paid for.

No amount is too much when it comes to our children.

अनामित म्हणाले...

More indoctrination by the organized extortionists.

Calypso Facto म्हणाले...

Check the salute in this pic. Are orange shirts the new brown shirts?

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

Palin .... Sarah Palin.

She has been pretty silent about this whole kerfuffle, unless I've missed something, which is likely.

अनामित म्हणाले...

It's an allusion to the old union song:

If the goons try to stop us we will roll right over them,
We're gonna roll the union on.

True, this only shows that unions have been using aggressive rhetoric for a long time, but as aggressive rhetoric goes this is about as anodyne as "targeting" a politician for defeat. Sports teams have been rolling over each other for as long as there have been sports teams.

Henry म्हणाले...

AL wrote: A steam roller? A log? What else is the weapon you think being brandished here?

And where are all the liberals and Democrats out there with steam rollers and logs?


I'm reminded of this:

Otto: Okay, fine, Ken! Come at me, give me your best shot! Go on, Ken! You don't have the guts, admit it!
[the steamroller bears down on him]
Otto: Okay, you have the guts, good... wait!


Seriously, Alpha, it's hard to believe that you've read Althouse all these years and you still take everything literally.

Mike aka Proof म्हणाले...

The unions are going to be beaten like those makeshift drums.

acm म्हणाले...

But, apparently, only Dems get tired...

Well, the Republicans are energized from drinking the blood of poor, oppressed union teachers. Duh.

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

Punk scum masquerading as valuable members of society while extorting the State at the expense of everyone's children. That's the face the Unions have shown us, and that's the one we'll remember.

jr565 म्हणाले...

Alpha Liberal wrote:
That is one dumb-ass argument, Ann.

That's a figure of speech, it is nowhere near violent.

You are really reaching. Hysterical.

As was Sarah Palin saying to reload (are you aware of her or her followers literally firing guns? No, so then how could they literally reload?), as was Michelle Bachman saying she wants voters armed (since in fact she was saying she wants them armed with FACTS). And Palin's maps with "crosshairs" on them were no more incendiary than the democratic maps with bullseyes on them targeting republican districts.
Thank you for pointing out how much of a bullshit enterprise you libs and dems were engaged in all the while. Don't complain when people hold your people to to the same (ridiculous) standard that you hold others. Maybe you should have told your liberal buddies to stop with the demagoguery (all in the name of tolerance no less) if you and your followers can't live up to the rules you set for others.
It almost sounds like we're applying a little Alinsky rules to you and your jackass friends - making you live by your own rules.
So, if you ask me, when they say they're going to roll right over scott walker there is no other interpretation than they are going to run him over with a car or a stampede. They are wishing him harm.
Why are you liberals so violent?

wordsmith2 म्हणाले...

Nationwide, Rasmussen polled the support for the Wisconsin Senate Democrats who have fled the state to bring the democratic process to a halt. (the support numbers are first, opposition second)

* Men: 22/72
* Women: 28/62
* 18-24 YO: 16/84
* Black voters: 29/50
* Independents: 27/70
* Moderates: 31/60
* Liberals: 37/58
* Under $20K income: 21/68

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves म्हणाले...

I'm sticking with the union... til' the day I die!

How do you suppose the rest of us survive without a political party/union to give us our daily bottle?
I could never belong to a union. It's the death of the individual.

roesch-voltaire म्हणाले...

Meanwhile Rep Paul Broun (R-Ga) responds to "who is going to shoot Obama? with a glib answer not in the least challenging such language. Of course we are going to roll over Walker with a recall vote-- the planning is already in the works.

Henry म्हणाले...

@AprilApple. Hear hear. The collective is not the individual.

Humperdink म्हणाले...

Palin .... Sarah Palin.

I suspect she is enjoying this spectacle as much as I am. The left going into orbit.... Nazis, Hitler, Mussolini, cross hairs, union thugs punching out women with cameras, Dems fleebagging the state, Tingle Leg being more incoherent than normal ... while the governor is calm, cool and collected.

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

Of course we are going to roll over Walker with a recall vote--

If Walker is recalled, does Kleefisch become Governor?

The phrase Better the Devil you know leaps immediately to mind if that's the case.

Fred4Pres म्हणाले...

This could be an Ann (or any decent blogger's) quote:


"Look what I'm dealing with, man. I'm dealing with fools and trolls. I'm dealing with soft targets, and it's just strafing runs in my underwear before my first cup of coffee … they lay down with their ugly wives and their ugly children and just look at their loser lives and then they look at me and say, 'I can't process it.' Well, no, and you never will! Stop trying! Just sit back and enjoy the show."

jr565 म्हणाले...

That video is so pitiful. "I'm sticking to the union till the day I die" is like finding the Japanese soldier on an island who still thinks the war is going on. Unions should go the way of the Whig party they are so non relevant at this point.
The owners and businesses are not machine gunning people. People go to work every day and get benefits and salaries, and are not forced to work for some robber baron. If they don't like their work environment they can find other companies that provide similar services and try their luck there. Singing that "I'm sticking to the union song" may have been brave and relevant when union members were being killed for joining unions, only now it sounds simply like stubborness, and an obliviousness to facts on the ground.

If workers demand more than companies can give without going into the red, then all unions do is diminish the ability of workers to make it into a middle class. Yet the unions don't care. They're sticking with that horse till the day they die. They got all their money riding on that loser.
And they wonder why unions are disappearing.
Break that union Scott.

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

The "it's only speech" argument might fly if the Dems (Capuano, among others) weren't exhorting their Union thugs to get physical at the same time we're watching the thugs do just that. Kinda like we might believe their calls for civility if they weren't simultaneously waving Hitler signs.

Henry म्हणाले...

Of course we are going to roll over Walker with a recall vote-- the planning is already in the works.

Are you sure you aren't going to gore him with a recall vote?

On that note, what kind of Wisconsinite wears a Vikings helmet? Must be one of those bussed in guys.

ooonaughtykitty म्हणाले...

>> Are orange shirts the new brown shirts?

Well, it is the 'new color' for the coming season.

X म्हणाले...

Of course we are going to roll over Walker with a recall vote-- the planning is already in the works.

garage, deep in the bunker, waiting for Steiner.

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

at the same time we're watching the thugs do just that.

Where is this happening? Not in Madison.

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

DC, where it was caught on tape. God knows where else. Just in the last year or two we've seen Etheridge (D-NC) manhandling a kid asking questions and Martha Coakley's "aide" shoving a man to the ground. That's their leadership, and the screaming idiots are taking their lead.

Hoosier Daddy म्हणाले...

Of course we are going to roll over Walker with a recall vote-- the planning is already in the works.

If the majority of the Wisconsin electorate decide that more of their income needs to be redistributed to pay for public employees wages and pension benefits then by all means, recall away.

I'm a Shaaaaark म्हणाले...

If the majority of the Wisconsin electorate decide that more of their income needs to be redistributed to pay for public employees wages and pension benefits then by all means, recall away.

Doesn't Walker have to have been in office for a year before they can try that?

If so, I bet there will be less local union money to support it - but they'll just make up for it by money pouring in from leftist unions out of state.

Dust Bunny Queen म्हणाले...

Re: Union songs.

I grew up in a Union household and back in the late 50's/early 60's when I was just learning to play the guitar, we had a Union song book.

This was one of the first songs I learned to play (because the chords were easy and I liked the tune). I really didn't have much of an idea about the contents or meaning of the song.

I wish I still had the songbook. It would be a collectors item by now.

garage mahal म्हणाले...

We need garage here to bring some serious outrage to this topic. Or is he still mumbling to himself about that prank call?

Walker didn't think it was a prank call. He spilled his whole strategy to who he thought was a major financial backer.

Fen म्हणाले...

I thought they agreed to a discussion-and-vote protocol with the Repubs? As in, they could enter a finite number of amendments, would limit discussion to 10 minutes, and then proceed to a floor vote? Didn't that just happen?

Yes. In the House. Claiming the Dems were blindsided by the floor vote is a lie. Which is why I only read MSM reporting re Wisconsin to see what propaganda they're trying to sell.

Shanna म्हणाले...

Palin .... Sarah Palin.

She has been pretty silent about this whole kerfuffle, unless I've missed something, which is likely.


One of my friends “liked” some comment of hers on facebook the other day…oh wait, it was about Libya, but there was an allusion to Wisconsin (more about what the President is doing than about the “kerfuffle” itself ).

Fen म्हणाले...

Of course we are going to roll over Walker with a recall vote--

Since your side doesn't abide by the vote when you lose, I wouldn't abide by any recall vote.

I'm a Shaaaaark म्हणाले...

Walker didn't think it was a prank call. He spilled his whole strategy to who he thought was a major financial backer.

Yeah, because $34,000 dollars out of $37 million says to me "Major Backer".

Fen म्हणाले...

"Behead the Unions!"

*AlphaLibtard faints*

Lem Vibe Bandit म्हणाले...

The unions have become a kind of Charlie Sheen.. where the benefits the unions are on are the booze and dope Charlie is on.. where the state is to go bankrupt to sustain the current course and Charlie end up dead in his.

Dilution, hell bent on self destruction, arrogant..

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

Doesn't Walker have to have been in office for a year before they can try that?

That is correct. Or maybe it's a year after the November election. Either way, a year.

Hoosier Daddy म्हणाले...

Doesn't Walker have to have been in office for a year before they can try that?

I'm not a cheesehead so I don't know. I'm not sure recalls are a good idea. California recalled Grey Davis and ended up with The Governator and look how well that turned out for Khali-for-ni-a.

Then again that state is about as ungovernable as you can get so who knows.

Paddy O म्हणाले...

"She has been pretty silent about this whole kerfuffle, unless I've missed something, which is likely."

MM, this is what she wrote on her Facebook page on the 18th:

The union-led school closures and demonstrations in Madison have left most ordinary Americans shaking their heads in disbelief. Months ago, I penned a message to my fellow union brothers and sisters when I found myself on the receiving end of union boss Richard Trumka’s wrath. Yesterday’s demonstrations reminded me of the full-page ads taken out against me when I put my foot down in dealing with union demands while I served as governor.

My message then and now to good union brothers and sisters is that you have another option. You don’t have to kowtow to the union bosses who are not looking out for you, but instead are using you. You can join millions of other union members in a commonsense movement to help fight for the right causes in our great country – for budgets that share the burden in a truly fair way and for commonsense reforms that take power away from vested interests like union bosses and big business lobby groups, and put it back where it belongs – with “We the People.”

Here we are still struggling to get out of a deep recession and coping with high unemployment, record deficits, rapidly rising food prices, and a host of other economic problems; and Wisconsin union bosses want union members out in the streets demanding that taxpayers foot the bill for unsustainable benefits packages. I am a friend to hard working union members and to teachers.

I come from a family of teachers; my grandparents, parents, brother, sister, aunt, and other relatives worked, or still work, in education. My own children attend public schools. I greatly admire good teachers and will always speak up in defense of the teaching profession. But Wisconsin teacher unions do themselves no favor by closing down classrooms and abandoning children’s needs in protest against the sort of belt-tightening that people everywhere are going through. Union brothers and sisters: this is the wrong fight at the wrong time. Solidarity doesn’t mean making Wisconsin taxpayers pay for benefits that are not sustainable and affordable at a time when many of these taxpayers struggle to hold on to their own jobs and homes.

Real solidarity means everyone being willing to sacrifice and carry our share of the burden. It does no one any favors to dismiss the sacrifices others have already had to make—in wage cuts, unpaid vacations, and even job losses—to weather our economic storm.


continued...

Paddy O म्हणाले...

Hard working, patriotic, and selfless union brothers and sisters: please don’t be taken in by the union bosses. At the end of the day, they’re not fighting for your pension or health care plan or even for the sustainability of Wisconsin’s education budget. They’re fighting to protect their own powerful privileges and their own political clout.

The agenda for too many union bosses is a big government agenda that only serves the union bosses themselves – not union members, not union families, and certainly not the larger community. Everybody else is just there to foot the bill; and if that bill eventually takes the form of thousands of teachers and other public sector workers losing their jobs because the state of Wisconsin can no longer afford to keep them on the payroll, that’s a risk the union bosses are willing to take as long as their positions are secure. Union brothers and sisters: you are better than this and you deserve better. Don’t be led astray.

One final word of warning to my fellow Americans: back in 2009, I warned about what would happen if states accepted short-term unsustainable debt-ridden “Stimulus Package” funds. Accepting those funds allowed states to grow government, increase already unsustainable levels of spending, kick the can down the road on reforming entitlements, and create public expectations that they would continue financing these new mandates once the federal funds ran out. States were not in a position to grow government and take on new financial commitments then, and now the chickens have come home to roost. As goes Wisconsin today, so goes the country tomorrow.

- Sarah Palin

Calypso Facto म्हणाले...

Re: recall, it's one year from commencement of term in office. So, January for Walker, but already started for 7 Dem Senators who were incumbents. If a recall petition is successful, a new general election is held MM.

I'm a Shaaaaark म्हणाले...

I'm not a cheesehead so I don't know. I'm not sure recalls are a good idea. California recalled Grey Davis and ended up with The Governator and look how well that turned out for Khali-for-ni-a.

I can understand a recall if a elected official wasn't doing his job, or was doing the complete opposite of what they said they'd do if elected, but to recall someone for doing their job, and doing exactly what they said they would do?

I swear, I feel like I'm in some kind of parallel universe where every day is "Opposite Day".

Hoosier Daddy म्हणाले...

Yeah, because $34,000 dollars out of $37 million says to me "Major Backer".

It does when using liberal math. That's how Obama can say we'll reduce spending and then we spend half a trillion more in 2011 than 2010.

I'm a Shaaaaark म्हणाले...

It does when using liberal math.

Ah, my mistake. This is the same math they use to claim that not increasing spending on something is a "cut".

DADvocate म्हणाले...

Contrast to your darling right wingers,...

Contrast to your lovable lefties hitting 5'1" women, make anti-Semitic accusations, make racist comments to a black man, threaten, “I’ll f**k you in the ass, you faggot!”, and on and on.

Save your stupid bullshit for your fellow lefties who live in an alternate universe where imagined violence counts and their real acts of violence doesn't.

Phil 314 म्हणाले...

I appreciate the tolerance of the Wisconsin citizenry but after watching video after video of these scenes I keep thinking someone in Wisconsin has said:

"I'm tired of this sh*t. I'm tired of them taking over our capitol!"

Has that sentiment not risen within Wisconsin?

Gabriel Hanna म्हणाले...

Isn't it amazing that roesch-voltaire, garage mahal, and Alpha Liberal always show up here "independently" with the same off-topic points?

Paddy O म्हणाले...

"...ended up with The Governator and look how well that turned out for Khali-for-ni-a.

Then again that state is about as ungovernable as you can get so who knows."

Hoosier, this is why I support Walker's efforts. Basically, when Arnold was elected he really was gung-ho about reform. He took on the establishment pretty strongly with a couple years worth of fights. He pushed for some really worthwhile propositions, got them on the ballot. A key one was making it so union members would have an option about their dues being used for political purposes.

The Teacher's union went all out against him. He got thrashed. Indeed, over the first two years he got thrashed so much that they basically broke him. He was routed and crushed, becoming a placeholder rather than a leader.

California's history shows it's not inherently ungovernable. But we have now gotten to the point that we're an oligarchy run by union leaders (a unionarchy?), so are quite stuck in a bad place now.

Paddy O म्हणाले...

Walker is starting off right, because what happened in California is that the union machine will oppose any and every measure to get back on track financially. Indeed, because it is the union bosses and their owned politicians who are the primary benefactors, the unions will let a city and state go to absolute crap and even still won't let reforms. Just look at Detroit.

If the right pigs get to feed at the trough they don't care if the rest of the animals are starving. And will even throw supporters under the bus, or to the glue factory, if they are no longer useful.

Calypso Facto म्हणाले...

Lordy, if a $43,000 Koch Bros donation buys them soooo much influence, just think what the $300,000+ unions donated to Barrett would've bought! Or how about the $1.6 million WEAC spent on WI Senate races? But certainly no inside dealing, right? Move along...nothing to see here except normal union-Democrat symbiotic parasitism.

Calypso Facto म्हणाले...

Has that sentiment not risen within Wisconsin?

Starting to wind down the protesters' special exceptions today. Police will begin clearing the upper floors.

Gabriel Hanna म्हणाले...

@garage mahal:

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-04-20/politics/obama.goldman.donations_1_obama-campaign-presidential-campaign-federal-election-commission-figures?_s=PM:POLITICS

According to Federal Election Commission figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, Goldman Sachs' political action committee and individual contributors who listed the company as their employer donated $994,795 during 2007 and 2008 to Obama's presidential campaign, the second-highest contribution from a company PAC and company employees...

According to figures dating to 1990, Goldman Sachs' PAC and employees have consistently contributed more money to Democratic rather than Republican candidates for federal office.

In the 2008 election, three out of every four dollars contributed by Goldman Sachs went to Democrats.

And of course you get your panties in a bunch about $34,000 out of $37 million, from a man to whom the governor has never once spoken.

That's why you and roesch-voltaire and Alpha Lib come here every day, "independently", with the same off-topic talking point.

Hoosier Daddy म्हणाले...

Hoosier, this is why I support Walker's efforts.

So do I. I have little issue with private sector unions because as a consumer I have the choice to purchase from other competitors should the union negotiate such a deal that they make the product uncompetitive from a price standpoint.

With public sector unions, I have zero say in their negotiations for wages/benefits and simply have to pay higher taxes when it becomes necessary to pay for it.

Unknown म्हणाले...

I note with bemusement that neither Alpha/Montaigne/Freder or roesch actually link to the Salon piece about the "shoot Obama" remark.

No surprise there, because even the article admits there was enough noise in the hall no one heard the actual question.

For those interested, Boortz has a link and they can judge for themselves.

Note also roesch,like Alpha/Montaigne/Freder, has had nothing to say about the many actual assaults by Lefty union goons over the last week.

Hoosier Daddy म्हणाले...

And of course you get your panties in a bunch about $34,000 out of $37 million, from a man to whom the governor has never once spoken.

You are making a bold assumption that garage doesn't go commando.

अनामित म्हणाले...

Alpha,
I think with the "shame, shame" video your side has pretty much lost the civility debate.

http://michellemalkin.com/2011/02/25/hate-a-rama-the-vulgar-racist-sexist-homophobic-rage-of-the-left/comment-page-1/#comment-1064069

test म्हणाले...

It's quite odd AlpaLiberal is lecturing us on our alleged hypocrisy on at least three levels.

First, his own hypocrisy is undeniable. Here is his first comment assessing blame for the Giffords shooting:

"AlphaLiberal said...

She's gone.

She was one of the House Democrats in Sarah Palin's "target" ad, with the crosshairs placed on a map.

Fuckers. "

Here he is absolving the left for using violent metaphors:

"AlphaLiberal said...

That is one dumb-ass argument, Ann.

That's a figure of speech, it is nowhere near violent.

You are really reaching. Hysterical."

So AL's hypocrisy is 100% clear: his opinions of right and wrong are completely dependent on which side is acting.

So this brings us his second level of hypocrisy. He asserts conservatives here are hypocrites regardless of whether they have supported violent metaphors, mere silence is enough to charge them. But as we see, his own hypocrisy is evident even if one requires actual defense of violent metaphors to support the accusation.

Which brings us to the third level of hypocrisy:

AL writes as if hypocrisy is the end of the world, and yet even should his accusation be proven (which of course it is not) it would only make us as bad as he.

You'd think someone getting paid to troll would be better at it.

orbicularioculi म्हणाले...

Looks like a meeting of ignorant Union Fascisti to me. The more the American People see these unionized "educators" behave like the Mongol Horde of Attila the Hun the more they realize what unprofessional, greedy public servants they are.

It is indeed time to eliminate public unions. We no longer will sit by to be extorted in this manner. Screw these idiot!

jr565 म्हणाले...

Lem wrote;
The unions have become a kind of Charlie Sheen.. where the benefits the unions are on are the booze and dope Charlie is on.. where the state is to go bankrupt to sustain the current course and Charlie end up dead in his.

Dilution, hell bent on self destruction, arrogant..

Actually to carry that analogy a bit further, I just saw that the the network cancelled the remainder of the season of two and a half men. Meaning Charlie will be out about 20 million. And of course 200 of the little guys making nowhere near 2 million an episode,unlike Charlie, are now out of work because of him and his inability to control his appetite. Thanks Charlie.
Yet of course CHarlie made demands and said that he's ready to get back to work and now was the time to hire him. Same selfishness exhibited by the unions. Give us our benefits, screw you if it bankrupts the state.

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

and doing exactly what they said they would do?

Not quite. Link

(I really like politifact, and it seems pretty evenhanded)

Kirby Olson म्हणाले...

Why hasn't President Obama said anything to the effect that the Democratic lawmakers have to go back to work in Madison, or else lose their jobs. Whose job is it to make certain that lawmakers remain within the laws?

It's very strange: Obama doesn't seem to either understand the law, or care that it is practiced unless it's his law, his way. He really ought to defend the laws, rather than one party's laws.

Rick म्हणाले...

The union-inspired program of attempting to provoke some violent act by a Walker supporter is dangerous for the right. The violence of the "protesters" is virtually ignored by the press, and it is totally ignored, and probably secretly praised, by Obama. As soon as there is something improper done by someone on the right Obama will address it with wide media coverage. This will be a constant part of our reality between now and the November 2012 elections.

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

Why hasn't President Obama said anything to the effect that the Democratic lawmakers have to go back to work in Madison, or else lose their jobs.

How is what happens in the Wisconsin State House a Federal Issue?

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

How is what happens in the Wisconsin State House a Federal Issue?

Because Obama chimed in with his "assault on Unions" jab at the voters of Wisconsin, and then used his website to help whip up the zoo we've been watching for a week. Other than that, nothing.

Murph म्हणाले...

Where is Keith Olbermanm when we really need him?

Jim Treacher म्हणाले...

That's a figure of speech, it is nowhere near violent.

Yeah, it's not like they put crosshairs on a map...

Meade म्हणाले...

rick (at 6:30 AM) said...
@Alpha "A steam roller? A log? What else is the weapon you think being brandished here?

And where are all the liberals and Democrats out there with steam rollers and logs? "


Palin .... Sarah Palin. Remember her Alpha? The one who put cross hairs on map prior to the election. A MAP!! And then was blamed by your compadres in the media for days after the Giffords shooting.

Let's go back to January 8, 2011 and take a closer look at what AlphalphaLiberal said, shall we?

AlphaLiberal said...
So wrong. 

Damn it. Dozen or more people hurt now. 

Sounds like she's still alive now. 

Perp in custody.
1/8/11 1:19 PM

AlphaLiberal said...
She's gone. 

She was one of the House Democrats in Sarah Palin's "target" ad, with the crosshairs placed on a map. 

Fuckers. 

Can we please drop the hysteria now? All the "reload," drawing targets on people, describing opponents as traitors, all of it that we've heard for years. Just STFU already. 

There are fragile minds and hateful minds out there, damn it. Show some responsibility.
1/8/11 1:24 PM

AlphaLiberal said...
Who is next? Her office has been receiving threats of violence for some time. 

Chef Mojo, fuck yourself. Fuck yourself. Sarah Palin drew crosshairs on her, the right wing and Republican Party has been stoking rage in this country for a long time. 

Political motivation is the most plausible explanation, asshole. You're arguing this is some random grocery store shootup? 

And you will deny it, make apologies as has happened in all the previous political murders. 

Who is next?
1/8/11 1:30 PM

AlphaLiberal said...
Remember, the DHS warned us of the rising threat of violent extremism from the political right. 

And you guys whipped up hysteria over this. 

She was a Blue Dog Democrat, for fuck's sake.
1/8/11 1:32 PM

AlphaLiberal said...
Here is the art work on Sarah Palin's rifle scope crosshairs on Rep Giffords' district and others. 

That server's been crashed so here's another photo of Palin's violence-themed campaign solicitation.
1/8/11 1:45 PM


AlphaLiberal said...
In Africa and Europe we have seen radio hosts and politicians openly call for the killing of people. 

Then those people are killed. 

Hysterical demagogues are creating that situation here. 

Sarah Palin:
"Don't retreat - RELOAD!"

Fuck you too, Sarah, you sick fuck.
1/8/11 1:48 PM

AlphaLiberal said...
Political motivation is the most likely explanation. Someone of the right motivated by the people in our body politic running around with guns at political events and urging people to take "Second Amendment remedies" and reload are most likely. 

Of course it could be something else that motivated the gunman. It is not likely.

Will conservatives finally stop flirting with violence? We've had a series of killings now. Cut it out. Speak against the violence-invoking language. Stop making excuses.
1/8/11 2:21 PM

DADvocate म्हणाले...

Obama doesn't seem to either understand the law, or care that it is practiced unless it's his law, his way.

Ya think?

...one party's laws.

That one party stuff sounds familiar. Where did I hear about it before?

(Humming)

Back in the U.S., back in the U.S., back in the U.S.S.R.

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

AlphLib (and the rest of his ilk) are dishonest cowards. He'll lie about what he meant in those statements or he'll simply refuse to address your post. There are no principles involved when Libs speak, so they have no real interest in defending their positions.

Ann Althouse म्हणाले...

"Really, Althouse, what is your allegation? That this man is saying we should roll over Walker with what?"

I'm posting the whole 1 1/2 minute speech of this man (uploading). The union will "roll on" -- he says --and roll over Scott Walker if he gets in the way. I thought the context made that pretty clear, but that's what it is if you are actually confused.

Henry म्हणाले...

@DBQ -- One of my favorite movies is Matewan, despite my lack of love for present day unions. It's a very musical movie. "Fire in the Hole" is one enjoyable song. Also enjoyable, despite the fact that I'm an atheist, are Hazel Dickens' gospel songs, particularly "Deliver Us From the Gathering Storm."

JeanneB म्हणाले...

Who ARE these people? Why are so many people available day after day, rather than working their jobs???!!!!

Where do they work?
Who's paying them for protesting?
Are they from Wisconsin?
Who organizes when they're to show up?

Just curious. I've been trying to get this answered for over a week.

bob म्हणाले...

AlphaLiberal is waiting for his instructions from the biggest sugar daddy of them all, Mr. Soros, who puts a million dollars into the leftists' pockets for every dollar the Kochs put into libertarian / conservative causes.
Come on, AlphaLiberal, tell me that the assault on Tabitha Koch was metaphoric.

shiloh म्हणाले...

Meade

Giffords was shot and almost died as several others were shot and killed in AZ.

Who's been shot and killed in WI so far as AA's continual disingenuous, sarcastic, please look at me hyperbole wears thin quickly!

take care, blessings

but, but, but Meade, AlphaLiberal is truly honored you're payin' 24/7 attention to him, eh.

and so it goes ...

Meade म्हणाले...

shiloh,

By your logic then, AlphalphaLiberal's should be the loudest, most insistent voice condemning these violent metaphors, demanding self-censorship, and "speak[ing] against the violence-invoking language."

shiloh म्हणाले...

Meade, please look up logic in the dictionary.

btw, re: AA and every other political blog ~ less is more ...

take care

test म्हणाले...

Shiloh asks whose been killed in Wisonsin "so far".

See here.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_033175e0-4053-11e0-8420-001cc4c03286.html

Alex म्हणाले...

shiloh - ever hear of free speech you fucking dumbfuck?

Headmistress, zookeeper म्हणाले...

Reminds me of a line from an old children's Sunday School song- the song is 'roll the gospel chariot along,' and the pertinent line is, "If the Devil's in the way, we will roll right over him..."