Althouse: Protesters at the Wisconsin Capitol disrespectfully have taped signs on and piled junk against the Veterans Memorial.

February 25, 2011

Protesters at the Wisconsin Capitol disrespectfully have taped signs on and piled junk against the Veterans Memorial.

Meade and I confront them, and we're told we're the first people who've had a problem with it. I try to explain how that attempted defense of the behavior is only going to make it look worse. It means that of all these crowds of people in the Capitol, no one else has noticed or cared enough to say anything.

AND: Here's a video made by Democracy Now! that features the young woman Meade talks to in the end of our video.

UPDATE: Our interaction with the protesters continue here.

262 comments:

«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 262 of 262

dave in boca said...: Speaking politely to people advocating evasion of the rules of Democracy takes a lot more patience and civility than I have, Ann. Glad you and your wonderful husband are able to restrain saying what I would have said to these filthy dirtballs with an arrogant attitude.; 2/26/11, 11:56 AM
GMay said...: Madman said: "You can look at it and see the signs and clutter, or you can look at it and see expression against a Government's, and the fact that such a thing can happen peacefully is a thing of beauty."

Again true, but your comments on the building itself were about its aesthetic appeal and the pride you all take in it regardless of personal ideology.

My bovine scatology meter is pinging about a 10, but you get high marks for masterful use of it.

"As far as the people in the Capitol being from out of state, I don't think so, and the Truth-o-Meter says that statement is false as well."

Considering *I* said "many" and your source was attempting to debunk Walker's remark of "almost all", I'd say you need to point your "truth-o-meter" in the proper direction. Even the dubious source of "Politifact" says about a quarter of the ones inside the building were from out of state.

So your "source" merely confirms what I said.

(*This response is in good faith and respect due to the fact that Madman is one of the only liberals on this blog capable of rational discussion*); 2/26/11, 12:00 PM
The General Manager said...: Fen: the right of Union Brats to shit on the taxpayers.

Here's David Cay Johnston
Gov. Scott Walker says he wants state workers covered by collective bargaining agreements to "contribute more" to their pension and health insurance plans.

Accepting Gov. Walker' s assertions as fact, and failing to check, created the impression that somehow the workers are getting something extra, a gift from taxpayers. They are not.

Out of every dollar that funds Wisconsin' s pension and health insurance plans for state workers, 100 cents comes from the state workers.; 2/26/11, 12:05 PM
MadisonMan said...: How does, I wonder, one remove tape stickum from marble? Water and elbow grease?

I presume ammonia-based products would damage the marble, although the high gloss makes me think it's sealed somehow. Vinegar would be too acidic.; 2/26/11, 12:08 PM
Cubmaster said...: After reviewing the second video posted here I now believe I understand the why those at the State Capitol in Madison and some commenters to this blog were slow to acknowledge disrespect to a War Memorial.
At about 1:25 of the video the speaker on the floor speaks of "genocide of the middle class". She is rewarded with loud applause and calls of support. I suspect she means the middle-class of the USA. This indeed would be a very large number of people given our nation's population, perhaps as many as 100 to 200 million. In that case the sacrifice of those who fought and died in our nation's wars pales in comparison to the brave souls manning the front lines in Madison. Antietam where 30,000 Americans, North and South, perished? That only lasted 3-4 days. The Battle of Madison has been going on for 10 days or so and shows no sign of abating. Gettysburg? Chickamauga? Shiloh? Nothing compared to the genocide of the middle class of America. How about the Somme, Bataan, Tarawa, Okinawa, Omaha Beach, Battle of the Bulge, the Chosen Resevoir, Pleiku, Khe Sahn, the Mekong Delta, Hanoi Hilton? Child's play compared to the defense against the genocide of the middle-class of America... I could go on but you get the picture.

When you are filled with the sense that you are indeed facing the threat of the "genocide of the middle class who could take offense to your actions?; 2/26/11, 12:09 PM
Tim Johnson said...: Democracy is not mob mentality, screaming at each other, insulting others, and banging drums. It isn't about who can make the most noise. The people of that state elected their representatives, and if they do not like them they can vote them out at the next election.; 2/26/11, 12:12 PM
Anonymous said...: I would have ripped the crap off of there and kicked those guys ass.; 2/26/11, 12:18 PM
Issob Morocco said...: General Mgr. you and DC Johnston miss the point. They, the teachers, need to contribute more from their pay to receive the pension they expect, if they want to have that money when they retire. If they don't it becomes an unfunded liability and will mean a short fall at pay day for them on their pensions.

The amount of the pension they receive is based on previous agreements between the state and the union. So Walker is not lying, nor is it untrue that they have to contribute more. Perhaps to those who don't understand how pensions work it may viewed as you quote DCJ.

For those in the private sector, we have to plan our own retirement and constantly manage the inflow, against what we expect will be our outflow to keep us at the level we someday hope to retire to and live happily ever after. That is why we increase or decrease our pre tax set asides as necessary to current needs and future needs.

If those teachers and union stooges don't understand that, they need to take it up with their union leadership and the Democratic stooges that sell their vote to them for a bag full of campaign contributions.; 2/26/11, 12:23 PM
Issob Morocco said...: Nice call out Cubmaster on the Nurse Ratched wanna-be.

She is so scary, you wonder if she has any compassion for caring to the afflicted.; 2/26/11, 12:25 PM
Mutaman said...: "a self-employed entrepreneur"

Is that what they're calling it these days?; 2/26/11, 12:26 PM
Wisco said...: This post proves conclusively that, if you try really, really, really hard, you can become horribly offended by pretty much anything.; 2/26/11, 12:40 PM
wordsmith2 said...: re the David Cay Johnston article that The General Manager links to:

Johnston's reasoning in the article is not compelling, but the commentary that goes with it is sometimes interesting. Keep in mind, not 100% of all state workers' pay comes from Wisconsin taxpayers. Some employees work in self-funded agencies where the money comes from license fees and user fees or grants: still, 99.9% paid by an American taxpayer from one state or another.

The article doesn't come to grips with the fact that the state is broke.; 2/26/11, 12:46 PM
Birkel said...: I find it odd that so many people deem it important and/or necessary to denigrate Meade's employment. It occurs to me that a homeless person trying to stop the defacement of the Lincoln Memorial in DC would be in the right. The employment status or living quarters of the person stopping a wrong doesn't matter.

Thus, I am left to conclude such personal attacks are scurrilous attempts to change the subject. And the practitioners of such are involved in the politics of personal destruction.

Either that or those involved in such attacks are the bourgeoisie who wish the proles leave them be. But then I'm not a Marxist so I don't understand such class-based personal attacks. I'm more prone to evaluate the content of a person's character than anything else.

I wish it were so for the many of you who find such personal assaults useful.; 2/26/11, 12:59 PM
deborah said...: I see no reason not to believe Shiloh.

Army '76-'79 91U; 2/26/11, 1:03 PM
vnjagvet said...: Believe him about what? The drivel he mostly spouts or his military service?; 2/26/11, 1:13 PM
deborah said...: His service.; 2/26/11, 1:27 PM
Roux said...: Harriet Rowan (sp) has to be one of the most ignorant people I've seen at the protests. She's the typical community organizer and my guess is when her side loses she'll be crying in her vodka and cranberry drink.; 2/26/11, 1:32 PM
chickelit said...: vnjagvet said...
Believe him about what? The drivel he mostly spouts or his military service?

I see no inconsistency with Shiloh having been in the service and spouting drivel. I had an uncle who fought hand-to-hand against the Japs at Guadacanal and killed a lot of men. He came back and beat my aunt and did a lot of bad. He ended up in jail for unspeakable things. Stuff like that happens. Bad apples and all.; 2/26/11, 1:33 PM
kimsch said...: DBQ - they're all Pauline Kael.

wv: anish; 2/26/11, 1:35 PM
deborah said...: Low blow, chickelit.; 2/26/11, 1:38 PM
Fen said...: Yah. I know I poke at him for staring down at his shoelaces too often, but Madison Man is one of those I may disagree with you but I'll fight to the death to defend your right to say it liberals.

When the walls come down, he's welcome in my camp.; 2/26/11, 1:46 PM
Fen said...: Wisco: This post proves conclusively that, if you try really, really, really hard, you can become horribly offended by pretty much anything.

Yes. Your post does prove that.

But I'm off to shit on your father's headstone. Don't be horribly offended, m'kay?; 2/26/11, 1:49 PM
Fen said...: General Manager: Fen: the right of Union Brats to shit on the taxpayers.

Ah no, own your argument. You were claiming that vets died for the right of Union Brats to shit on the taxpayers.

Defend it or retract it.

And stop using dead veterans as a poltical prop. You don't speak on their behalf.; 2/26/11, 1:56 PM
Unknown said...: Thank you, Ann & Meade, for calling these disrespectful people to task.; 2/26/11, 2:08 PM
chickelit said...: Low blow, chickelit.

Heh. I've been reading up on Shiloh cached comments around the Internets.; 2/26/11, 2:11 PM
chickelit said...: @deborah: I guess I have little tolerance for the pathological Palin haters. To me, they're like one person shining their hatred through a prism, trying to make it look like a spectrum of different people.
At least that's my working hypothesis around these parts.; 2/26/11, 2:15 PM
deborah said...: How do you know you got the right guy, huh, huh?; 2/26/11, 2:15 PM
lb said...: This senior at Madison should be protesting against the protestors. They are in favor with leaving her and her generation stuck with an even bigger tax obligation. Not to mention, unless she's trying to get a job with the union, I can't imagine any business in the state of Wisconsin will consider hiring her!; 2/26/11, 2:20 PM
chickelit said...: deborah said...
How do you know you got the right guy, huh, huh?

I don't. That's why it's just hypothesis. ;); 2/26/11, 2:22 PM
shiloh said...: I see no reason not to believe Shiloh.

Thank you deborah, but it makes me feel better ;) knowing there are some winger non-believers, whether they are being disingenuous or not lol. Most of them are just trying to bait me, eh.

When I was in Aviation school we picked orders according to our academic position in class and I was 5 out of 23 and picked sea duty in Norfolk, bypassing shore duty in Pensacola and San Diego. A married guy who picked after me was very happy.

Which begs the question:

Why join the navy if you're married and don't want to be on a ship, eh.

As I continue down memory lane ...; 2/26/11, 3:01 PM
deborah said...: I wasn't aware he's a Palin hater, but face it, she's an acquired taste. I admire the hell out of her, as I do many powerful women, that many hate. On top of her power, I admire her moxie. But I honestly can't fault her detractors. There are plenty on the right who are despised by the left...it's called reality. So who do you dislike most on the left? (Just curious.); 2/26/11, 3:06 PM
deborah said...: Ooops, I meant there are many on the left who are despised by the right.; 2/26/11, 3:07 PM
lb said...: hey what do you think would happen if the Walker supporters went to Madison and taped our signs over theirs? would LOVE to see the reaction - anyone willing?; 2/26/11, 3:08 PM
Call Me Mom said...: Althouse,
Thank you for the videos and Irene, thank you for the link to the office of veteran's affairs. I sent them an e-mail.

For my own opinion, I would guess that some of those ~ 400 people bedding down in the capital may be the chronically homeless taking advantage of the demonstration to have a warm place to sleep.; 2/26/11, 3:10 PM
shiloh said...: Oh I don't hate mama grizzly, but I do enjoy making fun of her even though admittedly ...

it's almost too easy!

Nate Silver posted about a year ago that she is definitely running for pres and I disagreed as she's all bark, no bite and only interested in makin' a personal fortune.

Time will tell ...

Ms. palin is a very quick study as there ain't much, if anything, underneath the surface.

take care; 2/26/11, 3:11 PM
Unknown said...: The draft ended in 1972. That means that no one borne after 1954 has had to think about military service as a major part of their coming of age. That's no one under the age of 57.

It's not surprising that military service has so little claim on their imagination or their sympathy; 2/26/11, 3:16 PM
chickelit said...: deborah said...
I wasn't aware he's a Palin hater, but face it, she's an acquired taste.

I have no idea what you are and aren't aware of. :) All I know is what I read.; 2/26/11, 3:41 PM
deborah said...: ;( @ chick.

Patrick there are plenty of young men who go into service as a duty that does not need to be enforced by a draft. I know a handful in my area, in about a mile radius.; 2/26/11, 3:48 PM
deborah said...: Lack of Palin hatred noted, Shiloh.; 2/26/11, 3:53 PM
Anonymous said...: Hey, chilax - they're fighting Nazis, right? Just like the veterans! It's all good...; 2/26/11, 4:19 PM
BJM said...: @Leslie

This senior at Madison should be protesting against the protestors.

Harriet Rowan claims to be from D.C and one of the organizers of the protest. She's making her activist bones in Madison, thus her concern with appearances at the Veteran's Memorial.

She's smart and capable and will easily find employment/a career in the left's activist/lobbyist/political machine. She'd be a great candidate for a WH internship.; 2/26/11, 4:20 PM
Exador said...: In the first video, the girl at the end says that the information station was moved in the night and they'd move it immediately. But in the second video, it shows her talking in front of the same station (at about 5:20) and all the same crap is still there.
LIAR!; 2/26/11, 4:20 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Since probably 99% of the scum in the Capitol building are protesting Walker and probably 80% of them are not even FROM Wisconsin, why do they HAVE information stations?

Isn't it like preaching to the choir. They are all on the same side.

It seems more like an a group mental masterbation excercise.

Who are they trying to persuade?; 2/26/11, 5:16 PM
J said...: Conscripts--those who were drafted, and served-- deserve our respect.

The gung-ho enlistees--soldiers of fortune, who signed on to the LBJ/RMN or Bush-Cheney war machine--not.

So aim yr piss at the Bo Gritz-enlistee types, laydeez, and the brass; 2/26/11, 5:33 PM
Zachary Sire said...: You two went there with your cameras looking for something, and if it weren't this, you would've "found" something else. So self-indulgent.

I won't hold my breath for a follow-up post showing that the protesters--who didn't intend any disrespect but were still berated by two camera wielding antagonists--removed all their signs.; 2/26/11, 6:12 PM
Meade said...: We were about to put up a follow-up post showing that the protesters--who had no intention of showing any respect and were rightfully berated by two dangerous elderly camera wielding antagonists--removed their signs from the the back of the memorial but still had their crap piled up around the base.

But we'll just wait until Zachary Paul Sire holds his breath and turns blue.; 2/26/11, 6:36 PM
Craig Howard said...: Good job, Althouse.

It's one of the responsibilities of age to teach the young what they don't know. Not enough of us do it.

Alas.; 2/26/11, 6:43 PM
Anonymous said...: Most of the visitors to the capitol the last 10 days support the moonbats. Just another indication of the lack of respect for everything. What a great generation these morons are.; 2/26/11, 6:49 PM
BJM said...: 100 cents comes from the state workers.

From whom do they receive their 100 cents?; 2/26/11, 6:50 PM
Anonymous said...: I like how the nitwit states that the kids think this is the most amazing thing they have ever been apart of. When they get older none of them will remember the part where the bill gets passed anyway.; 2/26/11, 7:00 PM
shiloh said...: But we'll just wait until Zachary Paul Sire holds his breath and turns blue.

So that would be a "delay my last" re: We were about to put up a follow-up post as Zach hurt your feelings lol

Too funny!

Indeed as I remember "holding my breath" conversations like Meade's above even though they happened wayyy back when I was in grade school.

I'm gonna have to watch that video again where AA explains just exactly why she married you as it certainly wasn't witty repartee ...

take care; 2/26/11, 7:59 PM
Patrick said...: "Nevermind, that was a poorly formed sentence."

Need I say more?; 2/26/11, 8:21 PM
Dave said...: Nicely done, Ann.; 2/26/11, 8:39 PM
Meade said...: shiloh said...
"I'm gonna have to watch that video again where AA explains just exactly why she married you..."

Let me save you some time and tedium: It wasn't for my little witty comebacks. It was because she likes the way I bark orders.

take, as you say, care.; 2/26/11, 11:27 PM
Meade said...: "Nevermind, that was a poorly formed sentence."

The sentence I meant to form is: My ends justify my means.; 2/26/11, 11:43 PM
shiloh said...: It was because she likes the way I bark orders.

No doubt lol as the one thing that stood out in that never ending interview is it's always about her ie she's the center of her own universe ...

barking orders attempted sarcasm duly noted.; 2/27/11, 12:54 AM
Brenda said...: And while you're at it, would you tell those squatters to take their crap off of the WI State Constitution? Last time I heard, someone had left their lunch on it.; 2/27/11, 10:41 PM
Wendy said...: leftists don't see their actions as disrespectful because they're all the center of their own little universes.; 2/28/11, 12:20 AM
Sanddog said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/28/11, 12:21 AM
Unknown said...: A little social re-engineering goes a long way. The young dumb can be convinced of anything. They are being USED by the unions. THEY are being paid off by acedemia. How is it they can be absent from college for 9 days and not suffer negative consequences?

The professors and teachers give them good grades and extra credit for protesting there.

Sad, what a waste of human beings.; 2/28/11, 6:44 AM
galdosiana said...: This video is on Charlie Sykes right now! Good job!; 2/28/11, 8:57 AM
Call Me Mom said...: I sent a query to the dept of Veterans affairs and received not one, but two replies as follows:

"Thanks for your email regarding the Veterans War Memorial. We sincerely appreciate your attentiveness and dedication to our veterans.

Once this issue was brought to the attention of the Department, we contacted the Capitol Police and the Office of the Governor to report the concern. These entities assured us that the signs have been cleared off the memorial, and starting today, officers will be monitoring the site.

Thanks again for your attentiveness – it was critical in helping us address this issue. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Max Dulberger

Executive Assistant

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs"

and

" your message was forwarded to me. Thank you for writing in to us. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs has taken appropriate action to contact authorities to handle the situation. Again, thank you for your support of veterans.

Kathleen Scholl

Communications Specialist

Office of Public Affairs

WI Dept. of Veterans Affairs"; 2/28/11, 6:05 PM