१८ जून, २०११

At the Wisconsin Capitol today: The Silent Majority Walk.

The pro-Scott Walker folks showed up today, with signs...

DSC_0039

... and T-shirts:

DSC_0004

They marched silently around the square and part way down State Street, competing with the bicyclists and the Farmers' Market...

P1000165

... and a sprinkling of other politicos....

P1000195

(Enlarge to read the signs. The guy under the red and white umbrella is promoting the philosophy of Ayn Rand.)

There were about 100 people in the silent walk. Here they are getting prepped about the route and the no-talking rules:

P1000146

Madison is a street festival on a Saturday like this...

P1000187

So silent walkers for Walker don't get too much attention:

P1000169

But there was the occasional remark, boo, or thumbs down...

DSC_0023

There was also the World Naked Bike Ride, but that's on video, and it will take a little longer to process. Hang on! Hang on tight...

P1000231

४१ टिप्पण्या:

Jim म्हणाले...

Hooray for the good guys!

SteveR म्हणाले...

No drums and no body odor. Hardly counts

Sal म्हणाले...

World Naked Bike Ride

Did you guys have separate bikes or one of those bikes built for two. And who held the camera?

Irene म्हणाले...

The Madison paper had a little fun with the World Naked Bike Ride.

edutcher म्हणाले...

And, of course, guess who shows all the class.

And none of those stupid horns.

Irene said...

The Madison paper had a little fun with the World Naked Bike Ride.

Irene's link reminds how many of the World Naked Bike Riders should be heard and not seen.

PS If Meade steered, both could pedal, but Ann would need very good balance to hold the camera.

J म्हणाले...

whoa, a Teabugger hoe-down---with hotmamajamma's like the broad in the green shirt and... Ayn Rand hotdogs! Who could ask for anything mo'.

A is A, which is to say, existence exists, and the hot dog is, indubitably, the hot dog. at least until it's eaten.

Synova म्हणाले...

What is supposed to be the purpose of a naked bike ride?

Provide entertainment for the nation?

Personally I think it's hostile. I felt that way when I lived near Berkeley too, because the response to concerns about public decency is *always* that you're just supposed to keep your kids at home then. It's not about freedom, it's a big loud eff-you and you're-not-welcome-here. It's not about people being comfortable in public, it's about how you, and particularly your children, breeder that you are, can be righteously driven from the public square.

mesquito म्हणाले...

Have theyy tallied up the property damage yet?

Toshstu म्हणाले...

No giant puppets. No drums. No air horns. No chanting. No sense of revolution in the air.

This is not what Democracy looks, or sounds like.

wv: obeddle - Irish Traveler word for bedbug.

Fred4Pres म्हणाले...

Nice to see the good people of Wisconsin fighting for liberty and rule of law. And they smell better (I assume but Meade and yu can confirm).

I am surprised you have not commented on Boeher's shorts yet, but I assume that is coming. I am sure you wept in frustration that Boeher could be so boneheaded.

Fred4Pres म्हणाले...

I do like giant puppets. I wish the right did more paper mache.

Shouting Thomas म्हणाले...

Shit, I went to the naked bike rider site.

I was hoping they were riding naked just because they wanted to get off.

Unfortunately, it's another group of world savers. They're saving us from cars.

In other words, another pack of sanctimonious assholes.

Bayoneteer म्हणाले...

Unfortunately conservatives tend to be older, employed, aren't unionized, and have family obligations which leaves less time and energy for politically inspired insta-mob stuff.

Synova म्हणाले...

If they wanted to save us from cars they'd do their naked bike ride in February.

Ann Althouse म्हणाले...

I've edited my video of the naked people. Hang on. Finalizing and uploading.

mesquito म्हणाले...

I ride a bycycle at least 100 miles a week. Usually a lot more. I ride to work whenever I can. It's my main pastime and source of exercise. I do it because I like it. My reasons are utterly selfish. I would be embarassed if someone attributed any sort of virtue to me.

Why do people have to be such goddan totalitarians about everything. Why must liberals be such snotty pains in the ass about everything?

garage mahal म्हणाले...

Nice to see the good people of Wisconsin fighting for liberty and rule of law

The rule of law is whatever Imperial Walker says it is.

This shouldn't come as a surprise, but Republicans knew when and how the Supreme Court would rule It's why they never revoted, they knew their hacks on the court had their backs all along.

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

"Hooray for the good guys!"

I concur: hooray and hoorah for the union workers!!

galdosiana म्हणाले...

This shouldn't come as a surprise, but Republicans knew when and how the Supreme Court would rule It's why they never revoted, they knew their hacks on the court had their backs all along.

Or, maybe the court ruling was obvious from the start because Sumi WAS acting out of line. Hmmm...

marylynn म्हणाले...

I was there with them in spirit. But to actually be there would of course mean having to go to Madison. Blechh

Peter V. Bella म्हणाले...

Nice to see real working people and working families sacrificing a day off for a good cause.

Carol_Herman म्हणाले...

If a majority depends on lots of people, lots of people are not here.

Gimmicky to have to stay silent.

But I guess you can always get some people to gather for a parade.

The idea of street fairs ... are to boost the traffic in the neighborhood on weekends. And, the way to tell if this is successful, or not ... is to notice if the people who come to make money (and put out tables). Or the storekeepers in their shops ... make money.

It is a lovely day.

Madison, it seems has two kinds of weather. Either you're wearing warm woolen hats, and mittens. Fighting the cold.

Or it warms up instanly. And, all the winter clothes are packed away. And, the ground and trees just swell with greenery.

Seems like a safe place. Doesn't seem to have bums.

Oh. And, the woman with her car moving forward. While her head is turned to you showing you one hand off the wheel. And, her thumb down. Would only make a sight ... if she also bumped the car in front of hers. (People like that key other vehicles.) So it does demonstrate why "silence" becomes something lots of people do.

Walker has more friends than you captured in your camera.

Basically, I think his political stock went up since he got elected.

(Weiner? He walked off with a million a year. Plus bennys. He doesn't even have to go to work. Plus, he kept his $5-million pot ... he got ... Dialing for dollars.)

Weiner made out like a bandit.

edutcher म्हणाले...

J said...

whoa, a Teabugger hoe-down---with hotmamajamma's like the broad in the green shirt and... Ayn Rand hotdogs! Who could ask for anything mo'.

A is A, which is to say, existence exists, and the hot dog is, indubitably, the hot dog. at least until it's eaten.


As opposed to the Women From Walmart at the union protests?

Ann Althouse said...

I've edited my video of the naked people. Hang on. Finalizing and uploading.

Take your time. No rush at all.

Robert Cook said...

"Hooray for the good guys!"

I concur: hooray and hoorah for the union workers!!


As always, Cook is on the comic strips while the rest of the world is on the front page.

PS Pretty much what Synova says. The WNBR seems to be big in places where there's a big homosexual community that wants to show it can gross out the heterosexuals and get away with it.

Penny म्हणाले...

Felines unite!

That dog is inching up on your cat treats!

Wonder what he might be thinking...

Toad Trend म्हणाले...

Proof that you can make your point without making a complete jackass out of yourself.

Trooper York म्हणाले...

Hey in the second picture from the top...is that Rochy all depressed because he is on date with Jeana Keough?

Synova म्हणाले...

I hadn't thought of it in terms of grossing out the heterosexuals so much as proving pure enlightenment vs. the Christian prudes.

It's the same sort of twisted "tolerance" that appears so many other places in progressive causes. Of course, if everything has to be law, good compelled and bad prohibited, any call for public decency is viewed as an attack on freedom.

Penny म्हणाले...

"Basically, I think his political stock went up since he got elected."

Not so sure this is true, Carol Herman. Which is why he should be admired even more.

Walker is redefining political leadership. His focus is not on getting reelected, but on doing what he thinks is in the best interests of his state and its people.

Alex म्हणाले...

Can anyone explain me why public sector unions should exist?

Alex म्हणाले...

Walker is redefining political leadership. His focus is not on getting reelected, but on doing what he thinks is in the best interests of his state and its people.

yet his approval ratings continue to plummet, proving the point that the people do not really really want the right thing.

Alex म्हणाले...

Just watched a 9/11 video. I'm filled with such rage right now it's palpable. Don't get near me.

Peter V. Bella म्हणाले...

"Can anyone explain me why public sector unions should exist?"

So people who are too lazy to work and accept responsibility can make executive level salaries and gain more power than the government or the people.

Carol_Herman म्हणाले...

"Plummeting Approval Ratings." It all depends on who is asking the questions.

And, sometimes? All it takes is one phone transaction ... to let you know a lot about people.

Take the Clarke call (in the recall election for District $42.) Politician is dialing away ... and a woman picks up the phone.

"Do you know about the recall election" asks the running wizard, Clark. (Clarke?)

"SUCH A CRIME." Says the lady. And, slams down her receiver. But her answering machine kept on recording ... and there you have Clarke saying what he feels ... He'd like to call her back and beat the crap out of her.

HELLO.

Polls don't tell ya nothin.

That phone call recording, however, spoke volumes.

Walker is doing his job. When there's a governor's race, again ... 2014 ... What will be seen across America ... is how many governors hold on. How many are democraps. And, how many are republican.

I think 2010 surprised a lot of people. Because republicans won state houses.

Walker, meanwhile, has gone from being one of 26. To having the #1 name recognition. Or at least close behind Chris Cristie.

If you didn't know this, before, POLLS are the tools the lamestream media uses to fool ya.

The polls are rigged.

And, we're not in Casablanca anymore. Saying you're shocked has lost its value.

Is the media dying?

Heck, the Internet has been covering stories they won't touch!

That's why I come here.

I want to see what's not being covered by the New Yuck Times. Et. Al.

Penny म्हणाले...

"Can anyone explain me why public sector unions should exist?"

Of course.

They create a sizable, feel-good, group of "middle class" people.

Penny म्हणाले...

Americans are still smart enough to fall "gracefully".

Penny म्हणाले...

"yet his approval ratings continue to plummet, proving the point that the people do not really really want the right thing."

Sure they do, as long as it's best for their family.

Thing is...Taxpayers feel the same way.

Clyde म्हणाले...

Well, at least "thumbs-down-lady" had enough brains to wear her seat belt, so she can't be a total idiot.

Toad Trend म्हणाले...

@Alex

"Can anyone explain me why public sector unions should exist?"

May I remind all rabid public union members and supporters that the patron saint of American labor, FDR, warned specifically against the dangers/pitfalls of the public union:

"... Meticulous attention should be paid to the special relationships and obligations of public servants to the public itself and to the government. All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations ... The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for ... officials ... to bind the employer ... The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives ...

"Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of government employees. Upon employees in the federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people ... This obligation is paramount ... A strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent ... to prevent or obstruct ... Government ... Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government ... is unthinkable and intolerable." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

VekTor म्हणाले...

So would trying to enlighten about Objectivism in Madison be a case of capitalizing on a target-rich environment?

Oh, and please, please tell me the "hang on, hang on tight." was a They Might Be Giants reference. Major cool points if so.

reformed trucker म्हणाले...

"The guy under the red and white umbrella is promoting the philosophy of Ayn Rand." - Ann

What, you dislike Rand? I've never gave much thought to Randian Objectivism, because, well, she's an atheist, and I could smack down any lame attempt at epistemology they could foster.

But I believe in "study everything; join nothing", so I'm giving her a read. Up to chapter 10 of "Atlas Shrugged"; a good read so far. I can picture you as Dagny Taggart (who I'm totally attracted to because of her brutal competence) and Meade as Hank Rearden (the lucky bastard, though I don't know if Meade's REALLY that competent).

So, super secret, hidden message: even though you might have me by a dozen years, if we were both single, I would let you play cougar with me (sorry Meade, no disrespect; expect things like this). It's brutal competence that I find sexy...

trungvkvk म्हणाले...

Elektroinstallation Münchenfurniture blog

Never mind I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best
For you too, don't forget me
I beg, I'll remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love
But sometimes it hurts instead
Sometimes it lasts in love
But sometimes it hurts instead yeah