March 26, 2011

Madison's new tourism industry: the endless protest.

There's this:
Spend Sunday, April 10th, and the previous Saturday afternoon and evening, in Madison with hundreds if not thousands of other Wisconsinites as we convene the first in a series of meetings of the Wisconsin People’s Assembly. By participating in the Assembly, you will have the opportunity to meet, learn from, and build lasting personal connections with Wisconsinites coming from all trades, communities, and backgrounds.
I'm getting a tourism vibe. And it's not just the "wave" logo, suggesting a beach outing. It's the whole visit-Madison-for-the-excitement pitch.

55 comments:

Anonymous said...

Join the club. Woodstock has had this going ever since 1968.

The Women in Black hysterics and the Code Pinkos protest every weekend on the Village Green just to keep in practice.

They post for pictures with the tourists.

Anonymous said...

A People’s Assembly?

Isn't that what they used to call the gathering of the communist regime members in the Red World?

Now you don't even have to be a worker... you can just be a tourist with a scribbled-on poster board! The standards for today's commies have been lowered so much that most of these people have probably never picked up a sickle in their lives.

These are communist flunkies. Wannabes. Weekend Bolsheviks. A lighter, paler shade of red.

Commies! Commies everywhere! Not very good ones... but they're still everywhere! Will your precious Scott Walker save you now, bitches?

Jason (the commenter) said...

See! The Republicans are creating jobs by cutting government spending!

Anonymous said...

I live in Madison and I'll be there. But that won't surprise you. BTW, the invitation was posted by "Wisconsin Wave."

Liberals, moderates and conservatives are organizing and are now acting to stop what they view to be an assault by the Republican Legislators, and Governor Walker on Wisconsin's integrity.

Prof. Althouse:

Some of your posts are an excellent critique of the protests, but far too often, you seem to be deliberately getting sidetracked.

Let's see how the Wisconsin Wave event unfolds. Perhaps you will even attend?

Constructive participation (not just carrying around a camera and making inflamatory statements) is essential to the process.

virgil xenophon said...

As far as Chamber-of-Commerce types are concerned the more the merrier. Unless a serial killer is on the loose or radioactive soil is found to have been used as part of the concrete mix that poured the foundations for the schools, hospital and City Hall (as actually happened in the city of Grand Junction, Colo. on the western slope) its the old PR dictum "Just make sure you spell my name right" that holds sway.

Unknown said...

Ann Althouse said...

I'm getting a tourism vibe. And it's not just the "wave" logo, suggesting a beach outing. It's the whole visit-Madison-for-the-excitement pitch.

Actually, they're all coming to get a look at ANN (Althouse News Network) in action.

I'm Full of Soup said...

A more apt name would be the Taxeaters Assembly. What this counry needs is a Taxpayer Assembly.

Sal said...

Liberals, moderates and conservatives are organizing and are now acting to stop what they view to be an assault by the Republican Legislators, and Governor Walker on Wisconsin's integrity.

Yeah, right. Let's start out pretending this wankerfest is going to appeal to people across the political spectrum.

Anonymous said...

@shoutingthomas-

The Borscht Belt can be pretty boring these days. At least the Woodstock lefties spice it up a little. They're like wild turkeys or white-tailed deer... kids look out their SUV windows and point and exclaim to their tourist parents "Look, Dad, is that a militant angry feminist?"

Drive off in any direction other than toward NYC and you will see how depressing the towns can be.

One time I stopped for gas in Middletown and I looked around, causing this dark feeling to come over me. I almost tried to strangle myself with the gas hose.

garage mahal said...

Should be an interesting summer. I hear they have enough signatures to toss Randy "Bed" Hopper from office already, with more than a month to go.

We can do it!

Anonymous said...

Mark G: you'll never really know unless you attend.

But your belittling comment really doesn't show that you are prepared to work on mending our state.

Are you even from Wisconsin?

Issob Morocco said...

What is the consequence of being a magnet city for every kook lefty and bizarro protester? Are average folks going to want to bring their kids to read hate filled signs and listen to constant personally derogatory commentary about Republicans and Tea Party folks?

Not even free beer and brats will overcome that scenario. Great news for the rest of the state, not great news for Mad Town.

Issob Morocco said...

Julius, I take it you are familiar with Route 52 and Route 17 area from your description.

gail said...

@Chris: "Constructive participation (not just carrying around a camera and making inflamatory statements) is essential to the process."

So it was a waste of WI taxpayer $$ when the WI Historical Society gathered protest signs for their collection? And since documentation is not essential to the process we can definitely quit funding WI Public TV and their meaningless documentaries?

Have a real world moment Chris, documenting the process helps to understand the outcome. You may attach "inflammatory" feeling to Prof Althouse statements when in fact her statements are only contrary to your views.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Using Madison as a barometer for majority opinion will make the libruls very overconfident. So I look forward to a tsunami of shadenfreude.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

There is a certain type of tourism called "disater tourism".

I think Madison qualifies.

Anonymous said...

We have agri-tourism, enviro-tourism,eco-tourism (same as enviro), and now....poli-tourism....or whacko-tourism....or...maybe there should be a naming contest...

Anonymous said...

Julius, I take it you are familiar with Route 52 and Route 17 area from your description.

The crossroads of Liberty?

gail said...

"But your belittling comment really doesn't show that you are prepared to work on mending our state."

Chris, what part of out state needs mending? The Republicans were elected to repair the fiscal problems brought on by prior administrations. I don't agree with all the Budget Repair Bill contains, but when the ship is sinking even family treasures have to be tossed overboard.

The fleebaggers, Drs handing out fake excuses, 24 hour occupation of the capitol, legislators screaming "shame" at other legislators...THOSE are the actions that ripped apart this state.

What doesn't make sense is unions screaming "right to work" when they haven't lost their jobs and they make average+ salary.

Anonymous said...

Gail: your comparison of this blog to the Wisconsin Historical Society's archiving signs is confusing.

Please, let's not pretend that what Althouse is doing is "neutral" documenting. That pretense passed a long time ago.

That said, I will reiterate: Althouse's critiques are at times excellent. Far too often, however, she comes off just as silly as the lefty fringe.

X said...

don't ever stop. it's like a non-stop PSA on the shitbaggery of pubsec unions to the rest of the country. this is your government with public sector unions. any questions.

Lincolntf said...

"Mending our state"?

Gotta love the bullshit piety from the side that fled their duties, sabotaged the Constitutional process and systematically used intimidation, occupation and threats to thwart the will of the voters.

damikesc said...

By "Wisconsites coming all trades, communities, and backgrounds" they mean "white as all royal hell union members"

Anonymous said...

Gail: I agree that sacrifices must be made.

Wouldn't you like to see a dialogue and meaningful participation from those taking the biggest hit?

The first thing that needs mending is the process by which laws are being passed. There have been far too many "Legislative Surprises."

As the recall efforts indicate, confidence in our elected officials has been shaken.

Anonymous said...

Lincolntf: your words are divisive and belittling. You seem very entrenched.

What are you afraid of?

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Wouldn't you like to see a dialogue and meaningful participation from those taking the biggest hit?

That would be the taxpayers and I believe that they have already spoken....last November.

You just didn't like what they had to say and want to have a 'do over': like a third grader who lost on the playground.

Sal said...

Here's one of their six founding principles: Taxes on large corporations and wealthy individuals should be returned to reasonable levels in order to solve the state’s fiscal crisis.

I'm a moderate and I'm against raising taxes on anyone. So I'm already against the "founding principles."

There will be no dissent. If some heretic shows up, they'll be booed and harassed by Jim Shankman and the other Madison bag ladies.

damikesc said...

Liberals, moderates and conservatives are organizing and are now acting to stop what they view to be an assault by the Republican Legislators, and Governor Walker on Wisconsin's integrity.

Can you name a SINGLE moderate involved with this inanity?

But your belittling comment really doesn't show that you are prepared to work on mending our state.

When your side stops issuing death threats to opponents...then you can talk.

But you represent all dimensions of lily-white, far left Wisconsin. Congrats. The Tea Party was way more diverse than you.

damikesc said...


Wouldn't you like to see a dialogue and meaningful participation from those taking the biggest hit?


Threatening to kill people and then running away, technically, isn't a "dialogue".

...just as a heads up.

rhhardin said...

Jean Shepherd proposed generic protest signs.

I think "How Long" was one.

Set up a table.

Anonymous said...

Dust Bunny Queen and demikesc:

Why are you trying to minimize what is happening in Wisconsin?

You do understand that there will be recall elections, don't you?

If you want to run and hide, that's your business.

But I'll bet that you can do better.

gail said...

Chris,

You can talk about problems till the cows come home and the problem remains unsolved. "Tax the rich" is a wonderful mantra and in states where that has been done the actual revenue taken in has been below anticipated because the "rich" moved out of the state...not solving any problem.

How do you know I'm not affected by the BRB? I am. But as a member of the farm class who has been through more fiscal booms and busts than the average worker I know at times you have to make unpleasant choices that make life hard.

We've always been bothered by farm subsidies, but some years have had to suck at the gov tit. But it is not an expected right to do that, and I've contacted Kohl & Kind to end those.

My problem with public unions is their impact on my property taxes while turning out average products.

The Repubs did something because the Dems only wanted to talk. Doyle could have addressed the issue and even Politifact agreed his last budget was shoved through with little/none debate.

Lincolntf said...

I'm not "afraid" of squat. What I am is sick of watching weasels like you trying to rewrite history even as it unfolds. This is not a matter of "both sides did some bad things, but it's all evened out". It's a case of a bunch of Government employees turning on their employers (the voters) and not only walking off their jobs, but physically trashing the property of the citizens. At best the protests were grubby and venal. The rest of the time they were violent, ugly and beneath the dignity of America.

rhhardin said...

"No More Union Goons" might stir the waters.

pst314 said...

Remember the protesters in the Althouse post about a week ago: "Hey Scott Walker!...We were born for this!"

Yes, that's the problem with the Left: Their only purpose in life is to bully other people.

Paddy O said...

Chris: your words are divisive and belittling and school-marmish. You seem very entrenched.

What are you afraid of?

Because you're trying very hard to make the highly charged political protests into becoming the symbol of concialatory peace-making while trying to tar the rational, political process-oriented and media-centered response as being radicalized and hateful.

Your rhetoric is a nice change from the usual approaches, but it's not quite slick enough to really convince that night is day, the moon is the sun.

Ta kur pe je lax ne punu isok.

Chip Ahoy said...

Ha! Some Jedi mind trick. My coaster didn't even budge.

Anonymous said...

Paddy O:

I am afraid that conservative voices and views will be sidelined or ignored in the organizing that is now taking place.

This is not about peace making.

This is about accountability and integrity.

These are conservative values.

damikesc said...

Why are you trying to minimize what is happening in Wisconsin?

It's not possible to minimize the whining sufficiently for it to actually be of an appropriate level of importance.

You do understand that there will be recall elections, don't you?

I bet it will work out swimmingly, since in only 3 of them, the Republican is trailing a generic Democrat. That smells like electoral success.

To be honest, I don't care what happens to WI. If they go belly-up --- and, mind you, if your temper-tantrum works, it will --- it won't impact ME negatively.


If you want to run and hide, that's your business.


Ironic, given than the Dems ran away and the GOP did not. Not even when your side threatened to kill them and all.

...I note you haven't commented on your side's affection for death threats.

pst314 said...

"This is not about peace making.

This is about accountability and integrity.

These are conservative values."

Yes, the grasshoppers have agreed that the ants are accountable to them.

damikesc said...

I am afraid that conservative voices and views will be sidelined or ignored in the organizing that is now taking place.

Threatening to kill people for not agreeing with you tends to do that. As does physically threatening people with cameras who are just recording the goings-on.

This is not about peace making.

Yes, obviously.

This is about accountability and integrity.

Such as running away, claiming that the Governor didn't negotiate when he did, threatening to kill opponents? That kind of integrity and accountability?

These are conservative values.

Dealing with a side that has no values such as the perpetual bitchy ones, not really helpful.

Paddy O said...

This is about accountability and integrity.

These are conservative values.


Right. So, what exactly are you lecturing about? Accountability and integrity are exactly what conservatives hereabouts are arguing for. You're trying to make it sound like accountability and integrity are on the side of the protesters.

"Oh Althouse," you're saying, "your coverage of the day is so nice, but you're biased by insisting that daylight is provided by that overwhelming, often burning bright yellow orb that passes through the sky. You'd be much more reasonable if you just understood that day time is much more acceptable if see how thousands of much smaller lights make for a much more reasonable sort of day."

Paddy O said...

"Lathspell" Chris names Althouse. Ill news is an ill guest.

lemondog said...

Any need for a t-shirt vendor?

JohnJ said...

"1. Our state government must guarantee a fully funded public sector including education, health care, human services, transportation, public safety, and vital regulatory agencies."

Or else...

Issob Morocco said...

Yes Julius, where Liberty meets the tyranny of Maurice Hinchey. Beautiful country.

Wonderful Italian restaurant there also.

JohnJ said...

LawGirl said...

“And, they'll spew polemics like "you're divisive," all the while wallowing in the division they have created.”

Exactly.

And just because it's all so predicable, doesn't make it any less outrageous, does it? It's the very fact that they see themselves most likely to thrive in a divisive atmosphere that they reflexively go about creating it.

Anonymous said...

Getting back to Althouse's original point ...

This isn't so much political tourism as religious tourism, for the True Believers in the Cause of Social Justice and in All Things Communitarian.

This is the agnostic equivalent of the bus trip to a religious shrine, where tourists pose for pictures, buy souvenirs, light a candle, and pray for whatever boon they want the Higher Power to grant them.

Let's see how the Wisconsin Wave event unfolds. Perhaps you will even attend?

Constructive participation (not just carrying around a camera and making inflamatory statements) is essential to the process.


Althouse, Chris is chiding you. It isn't sufficient to ride the bus. You have to drop to your knees and pray, or you aren't One of Us.

Gabba gabba hey.

traditionalguy said...

That is what you used to see in an " Assembly" which means in a "Church". They are organizing an old fashioned Camp Meeting at Camp Randal. They can make speeches affirming the faith of believers and speeches imparting the faith to visitors. Charles Wesley would be proud of them. And somebody said the politics was not a religion. That is 100% wrong. Politics that attempt to influence the hearts and minds of men is a worldly Religion.

Anonymous said...

I am afraid that conservative voices and views will be sidelined or ignored in the organizing that is now taking place.

That would be Bad. For lack of conservative voices, they might end up adopting extreme-left positions like "corporations have no constitutional rights".

Milwaukie guy said...

I don't comment here often but I do love the threads. They can get tedious when, e.g., the shiloh's jump in. But, I've learned that I can scroll right past them and the truly idiot nugget will get picked up by, e.g., shouting thomas and batted right back, thus restoring good humour to the flux.

Thanks to all the regulars.

BJM said...

Madison has now officially jumped the shark.

James said...

The first thing that needs mending is the process by which laws are being passed. There have been far too many "Legislative Surprises."

I assume that you're referring to the 2009 Budget Repair bill that Governor Squidward pushed through the Assembly and Senate without public debate. Correct?

Kirk Parker said...

"Taxes on large corporations and wealthy individuals should be returned to reasonable levels in order to solve the state’s fiscal crisis."

Oh, dear Ghu. The US already has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the developed world. The highest income percentiles already do pay a disproportionately high proportion of all income taxes.

So what's this "returned to" bullshit they're pushing?

Unknown said...

I'll go to Madison and see how's the tourism industry there.
In Argentina, they have many things to do and also some good Buenos Aires apartments