Althouse: "The Wisconsin Capitol rotunda echoed with the voices of Solidarity Sing-Along participants on Friday."

September 8, 2012

"The Wisconsin Capitol rotunda echoed with the voices of Solidarity Sing-Along participants on Friday."

"They gathered there to defy a new round of arrests by Capitol Police the previous two days, over which a dozen demonstrators were arrested and cited for holding signs inside the rotunda, charged with violating state administrative code."

It's a complex encounter between protesters and police, once the protesters decline to disperse when the police say they must. I'm not saying who's right and wrong here, but I'm somehow inexorably drawn to the giant origami crane.

32 comments:

TML said...: How petty is your "revolution" when you feel empowered, emboldened and righteous because you bravely disobeyed an ordinance about signs that exists for the safety and benefit of everyone? Really, what cheap--fake--thrills. Pathetic. Do these people want us to see them as pathetic? Because I believe we all do.; 9/8/12, 2:11 PM
TML said...: Oh, yeah: There's that old Andrew Ferguson joke about liberal protesters. He's with a friend in D.C watching a protest and the friend asks why conservatives never protest (this was way pre-Tea Party). Ferguson replies, "because we all have jobs."; 9/8/12, 2:14 PM
Sydney said...: Was the Segway character there? I've been drawn to his story ever since you linked to that Isthmus thread about his health.; 9/8/12, 2:14 PM
edutcher said...: Looks like the origami was the only one with any real business there.

Also the only one who knew what he/it was doing.; 9/8/12, 2:19 PM
Sorun said...: Well over 100 people ringed the ground, first, and second levels of the rotunda over the lunch hour..

Do these sing-alongs last an hour? Are there state or city employees involved is this? Whatever the duration of singing, you can tack on another half-hour for pissing, getting a sandwich, and waddling to/from their desks.; 9/8/12, 2:34 PM
MadisonMan said...: Charged with violating state administrative code.

Yeah, that sounds about right. Certainly no laws broken. Just what some un-elected bureaucrat decided were the rules this month.; 9/8/12, 2:43 PM
Sofa King said...: MM: Administrative code is law.; 9/8/12, 2:53 PM
Known Unknown said...: Imagine if these loser spent all of their time and energy on developing and fielding candidates for local office on a statewide level ... maybe they'd actually make a difference.; 9/8/12, 2:58 PM
wyo sis said...: I love the origami crane!
I'm a bit of an origami nerd. I'd love to try folding one. I wonder where they got a giant piece of paper that big. The original paper had to be about four times bigger than the finished crane.; 9/8/12, 3:01 PM
garage mahal said...: How compliant and meek the Tea Party seems now when Big Government is restricting THEIR 1st Amendment rights in the process. "It's okay, take it away, as long as liberals can't!".

Thanks Tea Party. Thanks. You Limited Small Government Constitution Lovers you!; 9/8/12, 3:10 PM
Carnifex said...: MadMan has got my vote on this issue. Saying "You can protest, but over there...Further...further...There! Now go around the corner, down the street...Keep going...Further...further...Now walk in through the gate...Yes, all of you will fit. Now, close the gate. Perfect!" is just the latest trend used by the government to suppress the First Amendment. If the protesters are not breaking the fire codes, or impeding people doing business then let 'em sing. Sing like a bird before they cage you. Because they will cage you if they can.

If the protesters impede for 1 second, other people, through 'em to the wolves. You can protest and still be civil.

Now, I must go watch some football! That is how I protest Zero and Moochie harping on me to get in shape!; 9/8/12, 3:13 PM
Carnifex said...: oops throw not "through" SMH; 9/8/12, 3:15 PM
Steve Austin said...: I had to pass through the building the other day. What I found interesting was that you had a few of the protestors running up to the Capitol police with their signs and "asking" to be arrested. They were clearly taunting the officers.

Then I watched them bring out an elderly woman in a wheelchair who was holding one of the presumed "illegal" protest signs and they tried to ram the wheelchair into the cop, all while one of them had their cellphone camera running to try and capture some sort of "police brutality" if they could. To his credit, the officer completely kept his cool and let them be. I think those officers are pretty good.; 9/8/12, 3:36 PM
Unknown said...: The person with the sign that says the 1st amendment is his permit is exactly right.

Would he agree that the second amendment is all the permit I need to carry a gun?

The people are being played. The players laugh at both sides.; 9/8/12, 4:02 PM
techsan said...: Conservatives protest by at the polls.; 9/8/12, 4:37 PM
rhhardin said...: As I recall, the folded crane starts the same way as the cootie catcher and the water balloon.; 9/8/12, 5:06 PM
Sofa King said...: How compliant and meek the Tea Party seems now when Big Government is restricting THEIR 1st Amendment rights in the process. "It's okay, take it away, as long as liberals can't!".

Hey, if you want to live someplace where there are no time/place/manner regulations, why don't you move to SOMALIA?!???; 9/8/12, 5:07 PM
campy said...: How compliant and meek the Tea Party seems now when Big Government is restricting THEIR 1st Amendment rights

Oh, I'm sure they'll be just as compliant next year when a re-elected Obama begins criminalizing all dissent.; 9/8/12, 6:06 PM
paminwi said...: How do other states handle this kind of BS? There has to be a way to deal with these idiots!

I'm sure you have all heard about what happened near the Press Room at the Capitol and how the woman from the Wheeler Report actually had to get office space outside of the Capitol so she could actually work. She has filed a police report. Funny thing is the Press Room is named after her father because he had worked in the Capitol for decades. The other moronic press who have witnessed some of the things happening have been forbidden by their bosses to even write about what is going on. Bunch of pussies!; 9/8/12, 6:49 PM
Curious George said...: "paminwi said...
How do other states handle this kind of BS? There has to be a way to deal with these idiots" Like WI does now, requiring permits. Although some just do not allow it at all withing the Capitol. The only difference is that they don't have the moron lefties like Madison has.; 9/8/12, 7:55 PM
Curious George said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/8/12, 7:55 PM
MadisonMan said...: Right to assemble and petition. SECTION 4. The right of
the people peaceably to assemble, to consult for the common
good, and to petition the government, or any department thereof,
shall never be abridged.; 9/8/12, 8:53 PM
MadisonMan said...: Compare that to, for example, Pennsylvania's, which is much less iron clad

The citizens have a right in a peaceable manner to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances or other proper purposes by petition, address or remonstrance.; 9/8/12, 8:57 PM
MadisonMan said...: Or Texas:

The citizens shall have the right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good; and apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances or other purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance

I'm not going to go through all 57. But I wonder how many actually stipulate in the Constitution that any dept of the Govt can be addressed.; 9/8/12, 9:01 PM
Unknown said...: I believe that in the last year there was someone from the Solidarity Singers who posted a comment on this blog. That person said something to the effect of, “we are singing for our very lives!” Yeah, OK. I found it very difficult to take that seriously.

What are they trying to accomplish? I feel that if you really want to accomplish something, get your friends and show up on Election Day.; 9/8/12, 10:05 PM
Curious George said...: "MadisonMan said...
Right to assemble and petition. SECTION 4. The right of
the people peaceably to assemble, to consult for the common
good, and to petition the government, or any department thereof,
shall never be abridged."

As I said yesterday, Nebraska has the exact same language, word for word, in their state constitution. And the ban protesting in the capitol altogether.; 9/8/12, 11:44 PM
Carnifex said...: We handle it by having nearly tens of whack job moon bats spread through our entire state. Gots'to be sump'in' in the water up there. Or being trapped inside on those long winters.; 9/9/12, 6:32 AM
Leland said...: Madman,

Let us know when you plan to take a firearm into the White House or US Capitol building. Thanks!; 9/9/12, 6:42 AM
Curious George said...: "Carnifex said...
We handle it by having nearly tens of whack job moon bats spread through our entire state. Gots'to be sump'in' in the water up there. Or being trapped inside on those long winters."

These are Madison lefties, not Wisconsinites in general. Even a the height of the protests you wouldn't see this idiocy in other parts of the state. This permanent protesting class is a Madison creation. It allows them to do "something important" with their otherwise worthless selves.; 9/9/12, 7:20 AM
MadisonMan said...: And the ban protesting in the capitol altogether.

Which seems to me to fly in the face of their Constitution.

But Nebraska sensibilities are not Wisconsin sensibilities.

And leland, get back to me when you want to talk about the Wisconsin Capitol. Anyone can take a firearm into the Capitol here, if they're concealed carrying. Who is going to know?; 9/9/12, 8:38 AM
Curious George said...: "MadisonMan said...
Which seems to me to fly in the face of their Constitution."

Really? Because limiting protests in capitols is the norm. Many ban it, most limit it with some level of time/place restrictions. Wisconsin is the exception to the rule.; 9/9/12, 9:05 AM
Curious George said...: "MadisonMan said...
Compare that to, for example, Pennsylvania's, which is much less iron clad

The citizens have a right in a peaceable manner to assemble together for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances or other proper purposes by petition, address or remonstrance."

But NOT in the capitol building. Which is the point.

MadisonMan said...
Or Texas:

The citizens shall have the right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good; and apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances or other purposes, by petition, address or remonstrance
"

Protesting in the Texas Capitol Building requires a permit. Without it times and lengths of time are restricted.

Next?; 9/9/12, 10:10 AM