१० मार्च, २०११

Passed!

The bill has passed, phones Meade.

ADDED: Meade declares the protest over: There's nothing to do anymore. It will have to wind down.

१४७ टिप्पण्या:

kent म्हणाले...

DEMOCRACY!!!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS -- !!!

Kevin म्हणाले...

Ypa!

sane_voter म्हणाले...

Democracy whiskey sexy!

अनामित म्हणाले...

huzzah!

Triangle Man म्हणाले...

I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites.

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

And no one was arrested, were they?

Christopher in MA म्हणाले...

WE WON. How's that medicine tasting now, lefties?

Daniel Fielding म्हणाले...

Victory!!!!!:):)

Kevin म्हणाले...

I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites.

I had no idea that Jesse Jackson was from Wisconsin.

Godot म्हणाले...

This is what democracy looks like!

Chennaul म्हणाले...
ही टिप्पणी लेखकाना हलविली आहे.
Stogie म्हणाले...

Hooray!

Winding down म्हणाले...

Elections have consequences ---or so I hear tell

Trooper York म्हणाले...

Well if Meade said it then it must be so.

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

Arrested? Of course not. Climbing through the windows of closed National Monument is a longtime Madison tradition, not a crime. Just like phony doctors and handcuffing the exit doors of a crowded public space. Duh, winning!

Ignorance, disrespect and hostility have been the driving forces behind these pathetic protests from day one. The lack of arrests just shows what kind of society you people will tolerate. Trash strewn halls and mob rule are all you idiots deserve. You should be thanking Walker for saving you from yourselves.

अनामित म्हणाले...

"WE WON."

Never assume that with the Left. Wisconsinites won in November but were still dragged through Zimbabwean-hell just so the Democrat Party can keep their money laundering going.

This isn't over. This was just the first bill in a decade-long push back to rein in the fascism of the Left.

Trooper York म्हणाले...

Is he going to go back to filming soggy breakfast pizzas and strange vegetables at the Farmers market?

TWM म्हणाले...

When is Walker gonna sign it?

kent म्हणाले...

I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites.

Went to high school there with Michael Moore. Go ahead, ask him; he'll vouch for me.

traditionalguy म्हणाले...

Will the GOP grant Walker a Triumph at their next convention? I say yes. He can then run as President Palin's VP candidate. Wisconsin, where it is all happening...or as the SEIU/Obama guys say, " The State of the death of the Progressive Democrats".

Trooper York म्हणाले...

kent said...
I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites

Hey take that back!

commentor म्हणाले...

"We Are All Wisconsinites"

Bob_R म्हणाले...

THIS is what democracy looks like.

Gene म्हणाले...

I cannot believe the public employee unions cannot find a judge to put the bill on hold for the next couple of years. After an 18 month delay, during which the judge with prohibit any provisions from taking effect, there will be a hearing, after which the judge will declare all but the innocuous parts of the bill to be unconstitutional.

Nothing will change. The law passed by the legislature will be rendered null and void.

This is what a judge did in California to immigration propositions passed by the voters. I suspect there's no reason they can't do it in Wisconsin too.

Next step of the unions--to the courts.

Trooper York म्हणाले...

No we ain't.

No way am I wearing plastic cheese on my head.

Jim Treacher म्हणाले...

Is he going to go back to filming soggy breakfast pizzas and strange vegetables at the Farmers market?

Yes, but not the sour grapes. That's your department.

Chennaul म्हणाले...

Here is the livestream link-it's sometimes live....

Livestream-The Uptake


Right now Jess Jackson is giving a speech outside.

One of the commenters over there said something like-

hopefully they will listen to Jesse Jackson and march around the Capitol building instead of into it.

We'll see.

Bob_R म्हणाले...

No one was arrested. But the people who put the handcuffs on the door should have been.

sunsong म्हणाले...

Congratulations!!!

Martin L. Shoemaker म्हणाले...

Meade must be getting tired. I can't think of another explanation for his naivete.

Somewhere in the crowd right now, someone is thinking: "The Battle for Wisconsin is not over. The Battle for Wisconsin has just begun."

nichole म्हणाले...

Really? http://twitter.com/#!/MikeElk/status/45943385432920064

JohnJ म्हणाले...

Good!

But now the hard part: They'll have to show that the fuss was worth it.

traditionalguy म्हणाले...

My suspicion is that Governor Walker is like that rare bird, Abe and he has no fear of enemy armies and their tactics since he sees so clearly.

Trooper York म्हणाले...

Hey Treacher baby...you don't know what you are talking about. I am just busting Meades balls.

Hey spouting off about something you don't know about....are you sure your name ain't Teacher?

Bart DePalma म्हणाले...

I suspect the GOP viewed a straight up vote on the union reforms as preferable to laying off teachers and such.

In order to head off any pro-union judge from reversing the democratic process, call a vote on the entire original legislation as soon as the AWOL senate Dems return to work.

Sofa King म्हणाले...

Wait, what? I'm listening to debate on Wisconsin Eye right now...is it way behind or something?

kent म्हणाले...

kent said...
I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites


Trooper misread. ;)

Sofa King म्हणाले...

I did hear a vote to remove the current speaker, which failed...

Triangle Man म्हणाले...

I had no idea that Jesse Jackson was from Wisconsin.

So your interest in this is also self-promotion and political theater?

LawGirl म्हणाले...

This is GREAT news!!! I think that, as a belt-and-suspenders, though, they should pass the original legislation as soon as a Dem returns to the Senate.

Glen W.E. Chism म्हणाले...

Meade lied, that's all . . .

coketown म्हणाले...

To be continued next election. Unless the Union supporters decide to burn all the ballot boxes as a form of "extra-procedural" action.

DADvocate म्हणाले...

Oh, they could riot to express their extreme discontent. It's happened before. Maybe our wonderful teachers will be a little nicer at the next parent - teacher conference or the clerk smile a little more at the DMV.

Triangle Man म्हणाले...

No way am I wearing plastic cheese on my head.

Where do wear your plastic cheese in Brooklyn?

Moonfeather.rift म्हणाले...

"Its over now"

Logically there's no reason to continue but I suspect that all those angry protesters have to vent their frustration somehow.

Trooper York म्हणाले...

"Where do wear your plastic cheese in Brooklyn?"


Between our toes of course.

LawGirl म्हणाले...

Maybe our wonderful teachers will be a little nicer at the next parent - teacher conference or the clerk smile a little more at the DMV.


Dreamer! ;)

1775OGG म्हणाले...

Whoa, has "Democracy" ruled on this bill yet? Until it does, nothing's over except the Rights of Man and of course, "Humane and Scientific" methods as applied by the mob.

OTOH: Who let that villain limp onto the stage!

अनामित म्हणाले...

It is always hard to get a pig out of the trough when he has his two front trotters firmly planted therein.

But it has to be done.

Henry म्हणाले...

Triangle Man wrote: I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites.

Ich bin ein Cheesehead.

James म्हणाले...

THat's a genuine scoop. No other news organization has this news...not even the local stations.

chickelit म्हणाले...

Gene said...Nothing will change. The law passed by the legislature will be rendered null and void.

Well let's hope that at least the State finances improve so that this execise isn't overshadowed by layoffs.

Jed म्हणाले...

Unless Wiseye is on tape delay, the vote has not taken place yet. The earlier vote was about removing Fitz as Speaker.

James म्हणाले...

BTW, the bill couldn't have passed yet....there is a minimum 2 hour period before the Assembly can vote.

DADvocate म्हणाले...

Dreamer! ;)

"You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one"

:D

Dopey म्हणाले...

When will we have the video? I've been following the updates all day. It's good to have real news in real time!

Sofa King म्हणाले...

What is remarkable, listening to the debate, is that nearly every single Democrat is whining about things like access to the Capitol, the feelings of protesters, and being delayed from entering the Capitol. Not one single substantive argument against the actual bill has yet been made.

Triangle Man म्हणाले...

The NYTimes says the vote has been delayed.

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday!

Meade versus The New York Times!

Cage fight smack down!

Two media enter one media leave.

Triangle Man म्हणाले...

Between our toes of course.

Might have to give that a try.

coketown म्हणाले...

The lady interviewed on the live stream just said it was 11:30, so I think it's a couple hours behind. But nobody else is reporting that the bill passed. So maybe Meade was talking about a kidney stone.

kent म्हणाले...

[...] nearly every single Democrat is whining about things like access to the Capitol [...] and being delayed from entering the Capitol.

Poor, put-upon kidnapping victims.

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

So the question remains, will the violent scumbags bumrush the building again tonight?

TWM म्हणाले...

Akkk, did it pass or not? Not that there is doubt it will, I'm just tired of waiting.

LawGirl म्हणाले...

BTW, the bill couldn't have passed yet....there is a minimum 2 hour period before the Assembly can vote.

Hmmmm . . . so, all of our ejaculations are premature????

:( Glad I didn't take the headline and run with it without investigating further. Wouldn't want to commit a standard lefty faux pas.

wv: dryptist. It's just a cool word.

Franklin म्हणाले...

Congratulations Wisconsin!

MayBee म्हणाले...

I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites.

I don't think it would be good for anyone in America if the fleeing maneuver had been rewarded.

LawGirl म्हणाले...

Okay, now I'd like to know exactly WHAT passed!!! <_<

LawGirl म्हणाले...

I don't think it would be good for anyone in America if the fleeing maneuver had been rewarded.


This is one of the wisest things I've read all day. That's exactly what would have happened with any other outcome.

I know we can't go back in time and am REALLY happy this is happening now (better late than never), but this really should have happened several weeks ago.

Methadras म्हणाले...

Looks like the state of Wisconsin had the balls to apply an anti-parasitic to the host to get rid of them. It will take a whole, but the public employee union tape-worm is on its way out.

James म्हणाले...

Hmmmm . . . so, all of our ejaculations are premature????

:( Glad I didn't take the headline and run with it without investigating further. Wouldn't want to commit a standard lefty faux pas


By my estimate a vote can't take place until 4:15 CT at the earliest. And I predict it will be another snap vote like the one last week.

Leland म्हणाले...

What Bill? Did the Senate Dems come back, and they passed the original fiscal bill? Or did they pass the new Union laws voted on last night?

If the latter, then there is still the issue of raising the rate in which public employees contribute to their benefits. TO THE GATES!!!

Chennaul म्हणाले...

You can listen to the WI Assembly proceedings here:

wiseye.org

I cannot get the video to stream.

LawGirl म्हणाले...

I'm listening to 620WTMJ and, according to Jeff Wagner, the vote is scheduled for around 3:30.

Methadras म्हणाले...

Sofa King said...

What is remarkable, listening to the debate, is that nearly every single Democrat is whining about things like access to the Capitol, the feelings of protesters, and being delayed from entering the Capitol. Not one single substantive argument against the actual bill has yet been made.


That's because leftards only make emotional pleas to the victimhood of themselves, their victimized constituents, and the egregious victimization of their special interests the PEU.

Thorley Winston म्हणाले...

I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites

Nope, just a federal taxpayer who doesn’t want to have to finance another bailout of State and local governments and supports efforts to reign in spending at all levels of government.

Chennaul म्हणाले...

CNN is reporting that Halperin Democrat Senator is heading back to WI.

LawGirl म्हणाले...

If the latter, then there is still the issue of raising the rate in which public employees contribute to their benefits.

My understanding is that this is part of what passed last night. Only appropriations were removed.

Sofa King म्हणाले...

A vote has just taken place not to overrule the chair's ruling on a point of order challenging whether the bill was in order.

Leland म्हणाले...

Ack, I guess the phrase is "TO THE BARRICADES!!" The miserable...

The rule of Lemnity म्हणाले...

Let the good times roll!!

Chennaul म्हणाले...

Yep. CNN is reporting the same and if you listen at the link I posted above it seems like the Democrats are trying to stall it.

Hell if I know parliamentary procedure but that's what it sounds like.

tammy म्हणाले...

Oh whoa is us. Liberal weaning time. Thankfully, WI popped it's tit out of the liberal mouths.

Leland म्हणाले...

My understanding is that this is part of what passed last night. Only appropriations were removed.

Well, playing with the game rules; then the Senate Dems can still put the WI government into a shutdown by staying out and continuing the fiscal protest. It would be a very interesting protest for Democrats to complain about a targeted tax increase of 5% on those who utilizes the end product. Particularly when the alternative to the 5% targetted increase is a tax increase to all taxpayers. Not really a good political move, if you ask me.

Then again, nobody asked my advice about fleeing the state. So I'm not holding my breath while waiting for the protest to be over.

Sofa King म्हणाले...

This is literally the fourth Democrat to talk about people crying.

Who the hell cares.

Chennaul म्हणाले...

Today is the first day that I have been brought to tears and I just don't mean watery eyes but sobbing tears as people were dragged out on their hands and knees...

Watching the police with their riot gear and their canine units the only thing I was left wondering is where the hoses were.


Anonymous Democrat speaking right now.

gloogle म्हणाले...

"And there shall be wailing, and the gnashing of teeth..."

Fred4Pres म्हणाले...

Yes! Great!

Of course, we are still in deep deep trouble.

We cannot tax our way out of this hole. We cannot grow our way out economically. We cannot use demographics to work our way out over time (in fact, we're barely maintaining a replacement rate of reproduction as it is, and most of that reproducing is among the least productive of our citizenry).

We cannot vote the problem away. The only solution that would really work -- draconian cuts to entitlement programs and a serious effort to pay down the national debt -- would require a level of austerity that few Americans have the stomach for. This means that a political solution to this problem is also pretty much impossible. There is no political solution to this dilemma because neither the citizens nor the politicians are willing to do what is necessary. (Nor is it simply a Democrat/GOP divide. As we have all seen in the Social Security threads I and others have posted, even many conservatives bristle when faced with cuts to their own programs.)

Example: all liberals, and even many conservatives, quail at the harshness of the so-called "Ryan Roadmap", and insist that it's not "politically doable". Well, guess what? The Ryan roadmap is the best attempt by a politician I've seen so far at solving this problem -- and it barely scratches the surface. Even if every single one of its reforms were adopted right now, it probably would take decades for us to get back on an even fiscal keel. And I don't think we have that kind of time.





But we can celebrate since the road to wellness starts with first steps.

Chris म्हणाले...

It's all over except for the "America is a police state/worst country in the world/genocide of the working class!" rants. Those will be going on for quite some time. Like, forever.

kent म्हणाले...

[...] the only thing I was left wondering is where the hoses were.

"Mr. Sullivan! PLEASE!"

Unknown म्हणाले...

As Sancho and Shoemaker remind, us, the Lefties never quit. They subscribe to the philosophy of Senator Blutarsky, "Nothing is over unless WE say it's over".

This is why somebody told us eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

gloogle म्हणाले...

"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of the women."

Chennaul म्हणाले...

Mr. Sullivan! PLEASE!"

LOL!

I lost the audio right after that-can't get the damn thing to load.

It was really.really.bad.

Scott म्हणाले...

What's passed? No is reporting that the bill has passed.

Chennaul म्हणाले...

Sofa King are you listening to it somewhere else?

Sofa King म्हणाले...

Wisconsin Eye. I have better luck when I use the "listen" link (no video), though it still drops every several minutes.

Chennaul म्हणाले...

I never had any luck with the vid and now the audio won't load....

Hmmm I wonder if a WI radio station like a local PBS station has got it.

chickelit म्हणाले...

Passed!

Mist!

Cindy Martin म्हणाले...

The protests will have to die down??

Not if Jesse, Moore, and the union thugs have anything to do about it.

this is ground zero. They will not give up that easily.

LifeoftheMind म्हणाले...

This is not the time to wrap up and take a vacation in the hope that the ill will may just blow over. They should pass serious reforms now such as defining job abandonment for legislators who depart the state to obstruct a vote.

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

"DEMOCRACY!!!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS -- !!!"


Said Winston Smith

kent म्हणाले...

Said Winston Smith

This is what intellectual incoherence looks like.

Roger J. म्हणाले...

Ohio, Wisconsin and soon Tennessee

and no KY jelly when the states shove it up the union's ass.

we won MoFos--deal with it.

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

I'm with the anonymous Democrat.
Where ARE the friggin' hoses?

अनामित म्हणाले...

This is what intellectual incoherence looks like.

Cookie reads, but does not understand.

Roger J. म्हणाले...

Mr Cook--pray tell how democracy was not served by a duly elected legislature and a duly elected governor passing legislation?

In what way does this differ from the Obamhealth care legislation passed by the US congress?

I am confused and am sure you can enlighten me.

Sofa King म्हणाले...

and no KY jelly

What is this Kentucky jelly people keep talking about? Some kind of jam or preserves? Does it contain a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices?

Roger J. म्हणाले...

The actions of the rabble storming the statehouse are precisely why the the founders rejected pure democracy in favor of a representative republic--See for example Aristotle's arguments. Still relevent today.

Lincolntf म्हणाले...

"KY jelly" is a John Calipari defense, isn't it?

Sofa King म्हणाले...

Ok, NOW it's passed.

Roger J. म्हणाले...

Sofa King--KY Jelly is actually flavored with good KY bourbon (I understand its Woodford Reserve)

lemondog म्हणाले...

Commentators say bill has passed.

video

James म्हणाले...

53-42....some Republicans voted with the Democrats.

Roger J. म्हणाले...

When the country voted for hope and change they certainly got more than they thought--State houses across the country turned red and are in fact inacting changes--For those that say Mr Obama is the wheres waldo president, he has done a banner job in screwing democrats. Thanks Barack

Phil 314 म्हणाले...

Gentlemen, start your lawyers!

अनामित म्हणाले...

"In what way does this differ from the Obamhealth care legislation passed by the US congress?"

That's a very good question. I'd like to see the answer, too, especially in view of the fact that the Senate Dems chose to use a parliamentary maneuver that violated Senate rules in order to cut off debate and pass ObamaCare by a simple majority vote. Democrats have no claim to the moral high ground when it comes to their complaints that the other side is "ramming" legislation through a vote in the WI legislature.

lemondog म्हणाले...

White House: Wisconsin vote 'vilifies' public workers

Thus spake the WH

Calypso Facto म्हणाले...

"In what way does this differ from the Obamhealth care legislation passed by the US congress?"

See this for an accurate/amusing comparison of the legislative procedures in question.

h/t Cato

ricpic म्हणाले...

Walker just saved the dumkopfs' jobs for them.

Roger J. म्हणाले...

Mr Cook? in what way does what the duly elected Wisconsin legislators/executive action differ from how the Democrats, all duly elected, push Obama care thru the process?

Mr Cook? bueller? Anybody?

Your Winston Smith allusion was pathetic--surely you can do better

Meade म्हणाले...

Free at last!

Roger J. म्हणाले...

Meade: Bravo Zulu

well done

अनामित म्हणाले...

Meade said...

"Free at last!"


Not quite, to get maximum use of all the new video equipment and such, it's on to Ohio!

Tennessee!

New York!

California!

ALL 57 STATES!

KCFleming म्हणाले...

"surely you can do better "

Actually, that's some of his best work ever.

M. Simon म्हणाले...

limp on stage

It is not the kind of show I was expecting.

M. Simon म्हणाले...

- avilify -

WV: abila - fookin mind readers anyway. Shortage of tin foil in aisle three.

Calypso Facto म्हणाले...

Yes, indeed. Very nicely done, thank you, Meadehouse! It's been great having the best event coverage right on my computer.

Leland म्हणाले...

Not quite, to get maximum use of all the new video equipment and such, it's on to Ohio!

Tennessee!

New York!

California!

ALL 57 STATES!


YYYYYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGG!

Alex म्हणाले...

The latest meme is "Walker didn't campaign on union busting, thus we Democrats can subvert the election".

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

"Mr Cook? in what way does what the duly elected Wisconsin legislators/executive action differ from how the Democrats, all duly elected, push Obama care thru the process?

Mr Cook? bueller? Anybody?"


I made no allusions to the process by which the execrable ObamaRomneyCare Bill was passed. If you think it is identical to what happened in Wisconsin, you are welcome to elaborate. I may even agree with you.

But you've missed my point. Many undemocratic acts are effected through "democratic" means. I was alluding less to the means than to the end. We, as citizens remain free to discern when we're being fucked and when we're being made love to, those of us who are able. Winston Smith was unable to see the difference as he was made to love his oppressor, to see his rapist as his beloved.

Alex म्हणाले...

Cook obviously failed to read 1984 all the way through. He might have missed the 50 pages of torture that O'Brien put him through. Any of us would be so thoroughly broken by then and love Big Brother.

Cook - are you saying Walker is O'Brien?

David म्हणाले...

It will have to wind down.

Thank you Professor Antoinette.

There are organized groups calling for all Wisconsin high school students to leave class at 2 PM Friday. (Tough sell, eh?) Also pushing a newer, bigger march on Madison.

The revolution is permanent (or until Spring Break.)

Who knows what will happen? I don't.

अनामित म्हणाले...

I'll be curious to see when the next election in WI rolls around how many faux Cheeseheads-for-a-day the Dems manage to bus in to vote illegally in Madison, something my mother-in-law once told me is a long-standing tradition in WI. Whether it's only a myth, I don't know. Perhaps those of you who live in the Badger State can tell me if it's true or just an old mother-in-law's tale.

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

"He might have missed the 50 pages of torture that O'Brien put him through. Any of us would be so thoroughly broken by then and love Big Brother."

Do you think those we have tortured have learned to love us?

You're being too literal-minded. Again, it's not about the means but the ends. The point of Winston Smith's ordeal was not the means by which he came to love Big Brother, but the end...that he came to love Big Brother.

Americans more and more are coming to love Big Brother, and they see in his opponents a cadre of Emmanuel Goldsteins.

As one dope said the other day on one of the Althouse comments sections, referring to the teachers protesting the evisceration of their collective bargaining rights, "These poor saps really think they're fighting the Man, when they are the Man." Oy!

That commenter is also Winston Smith, and the means by which we come to see our oppressors as beloved to us (and those who oppose our oppressors as the enemy) is doublethink. As O'Brien says, it's not about forcing Winston to mouth his allegiance to Big Brother through force, but about getting Winston to truly and sincerely love Big Brother.

And so it is more and more today in America.

Bob Loblaw म्हणाले...

I had no idea that so many of you were Wisconsinites.

How many of the protesters are Wisconsinites?

Alex म्हणाले...

Cook - yeah the severe physical torture Winston Smith was put through was just symbolism & allegory for what the GOP is doing to the "working families". Uh huh.

Roger J. म्हणाले...

Mr Cook writes: "Many undemocratic acts are effected through "democratic" means." Given the lack of detail of your argument other than a reference to Winston Smith, its difficult to engage your point. I would gather than you feel what the Wisconsin legislature did was some how "undemocratic?" Undemocratic in what way, sir? Because it removes collective bargaining rights from public sector unions?

While you may not like the processes that led to Obamacare or to the Wisconsin action, I would suggest those were in fact democratic--and, of course, that is the peril of democracy (or representative government)--And what would be the alternative? Plato's guardians? The elite that knows what is best for us? You simply dont like the outcome. you dont like the end and will apparently throw out the process--What is your alternative?

It seems you have a problem with democracy-- a system that may produce outcomes you deem as undemocratic--fine but it does seem to me you are simply imposing your belief system in place of what many more people might prefer.
If I have misunderstood you my apologies--I will welcome your clarification.

Toad Trend म्हणाले...

Hey Mr. Meade (Ann too), thanks for sticking your necks out for us here blog lurkers.

It is a refreshing look from a unique perspective - first person in a sense.

Sure beats talking heads telling you what they think/what you should think.

Bring on the Pulitzer.

wv - incess

Where Meade often found himself.

Unknown म्हणाले...

I'll be curious to see when the next election in WI rolls around how many faux Cheeseheads-for-a-day the Dems manage to bus in to vote illegally in Madison, something my mother-in-law once told me is a long-standing tradition in WI....

Probably true. That's why our next big bill is VoterID and other election reform.

अनामित म्हणाले...

I admire Meade's optimism, but this is not over. The left will do to this what they did to Prop 8.

Unknown म्हणाले...

Cook forgets the people he admires so don't believe in republican government; they talk about democracy in places they want to rule until they rule there.

Then it's gulags and midnight executions.

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

"Cook - yeah the severe physical torture Winston Smith was put through was just symbolism & allegory for what the GOP is doing to the 'working families'. Uh huh."

Um, no. But Winston's love of Big Brother is similar to working Americans cheering on the bankers and warmongers who are bankrupting them and our country.

orbicularioculi म्हणाले...

Dear Senator/s Fleebagger/s, the police are awaiting your return to do your job in Wisconsin.

Once one of the absent Fleebaggers is taken to the Senate in handcuffs the Republican Senate can vote and the budget can be passed.

Elections have consequences, liberals! Now we KNOW how unionized public servants view the taxpayers.

Roger J. म्हणाले...

Mr Cook--care to engage my point above? Most of us, I presume, have read 1984. can we move on?

DADvocate म्हणाले...

I have mentioned it personally, but superb job of coverage by Ann and Meade of a bell weather event.

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

Roger J.

I suppose one can say that any acts effected through purportedly democratic means are, by definition, "democratic." This ignores cases where one might argue that dirty tricks (or skillful politicking, according to one's P.O.V.) were utilized to prevent full and fair votes, or where lies and propaganda were utilized to influence vote results, (as in the lies told to compel approval to attack Iraq), or where votes were cast to serve the agenda of powerful financial or political special interest groups or as expressions of repressive and ingrained social biases, rather to serve the citizenry, etc. But again, one can argue these are all features and dangers of "democracy," and so the results must, by definition, be "democratic."

I won't argue the point. However, when "democratic" processes produce results that are inimical to the benefit of the citizenry, one would expect the citizenry to object.

When many among the citizenry pump their fists and shout "Boo-yah!" or "DEMOCRACY---YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! for the passage of laws that reduce the capacity of citizens to advocate effectively (or at all) for their own benefit, (as in the erasure of collective bargaining rights for union members); or for laws that proscribe to some citizens rights enjoyed by others, (e.g., laws against gay marriage or prohibiting suffrage for women and minorities, or delimiting use of public spaces by blacks or other minorities); or for laws that are punitively discriminatory against certain segments of the population, (e.g., internment of Japanese citizens in prison camps in WWII and the impoundment of their property); or for policies that result in financial burdens on working citizens while exempting the wealthy from those burdens, (e.g., the many Americans evicted from foreclosed homes while the bankers who were the cause of the housing bubble and the financial collapse continue with no impediments placed on their behavior, who face no criminal investigations, who continue to expect--and recieve--annual bonuses that are greater than most of us will earn in our entire working lives, or where talk of cuts to Social Security and Medicare is received without great public outrage and accepted as "necessary," while talk of minimal tax increases on the wealthy is received with outrage by the not-wealthy); when citizens cheer the greater intrusion of police power into their lives, scorning college students and old women who are tasered by cops as having "deserved what they got" and who applaud the use of torture as standard procedure; in sum, when citizens cheer the destruction of that which has protected them from the arbitrary power of the powerful in the boardrooms and staterooms, one must conclude we are becoming a nation of Winston Smiths: we have come to love those who prey upon us.

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

I'll acknowledge that I obviously used examples of instances from our past where the state harmed large segments of the citizenry with the enthusiastic approval of other segments of the citizenry, but my point holds: democratic means may--and have--and will--bring about limits on our individual freedoms: when we permit the hindrance of equal liberty for some citizens, we invite the inevitable removal of individual liberties for all citizens.

To the degree in our past, present, or future where we have supported or will support oppression of some among us, we support our own future oppression.

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

http://www.counterpunch.com/

WISCONSIN DEATH TRIP by
Michael Hudson and Jeffrey Sommers

On Wednesday evening, in a veritable Night of the Long Knives, Wisconsin's integrity was brutally murdered on the floor of the state Capitol in Madison. On 9 March, integrity and trust built up over a century was obliterated as Wisconsin state senators quickly reversed course and cleaved its budget "repair bill" in half. Financial items require a quorum, thus, collective bargaining was split off from the budget repair bill and voted on separately so as to permit its being voted on now. Even so, this still broke the state's open meeting law requiring 24 hours' notice to ensure transparency. Instead, the Wisconsin senate Republicans pulled out this new legislation without advance notice and began voting, leaving only a stunned Democratic legislator, Peter Barca, to read the open meeting law out loud to prevent the senators from voting. The senate voted over his objections anyway.


(The article continues.)



"DEMOCRACY!!!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS -- !!!"