Althouse: "The forces of chaos and public disorder disrupted another democratic institution Monday night in Madison..."

November 22, 2017

"The forces of chaos and public disorder disrupted another democratic institution Monday night in Madison..."

"... our elected Dane County Board of Supervisors, under the banner of “Derail the Jail.” Yes, these nut cases want NO JAIL at all! (We’ve written extensively about them.) Who do they represent? Maybe the sociology department at UW-Madison and the John Nichols chapter of the Socialist Workers Party. No one else. Because even Madison alders voted for more police just last week. No, even the smaller and more humane jail proposed for Dane County — really, a mental health hospital with bars — is too much for the anarchists."

Writes David Blaska, passing along this video of the disruption (which includes chants familiar from the 2011 Wisconsin protests, such as "This is what democracy looks like" (apparently, what democracy looks like is chaos)):

57 comments:

Bay Area Guy said...: All good! The idiotic left pushing the decent, middle of the road Wisconsin folks towards the political red.....; 11/22/17, 9:04 AM
richlb said...: My wife and I are open to relocating to another state and leaving the hell that is Baltimore, Maryland (yes, we could move away from the city, but if I'm going to move, I'm getting the hell out of Maryland altogether). You constantly remind me of one state to avoid.

(grrr, I hate that I can't edit my comments for grammar after they are posted); 11/22/17, 9:07 AM
MadisonMan said...: I will suggest that all the chanters live on the East Side.; 11/22/17, 9:08 AM
Curious George said...: "You constantly remind me of one state to avoid."

Madison is a city, not a state. And outside of Madison, Wisconsin is pretty normal.; 11/22/17, 9:12 AM
mezzrow said...: A select group of those who seek chaos gravitate to academia. They feel safe there. Hence...; 11/22/17, 9:19 AM
Curious George said...: Allowing these assholes to disrupt an hour long public meeting without recourse is unacceptable. Time to call in the cops, and if necessary, thunk some skulls.; 11/22/17, 9:22 AM
Tim said...: Another example of the belief system that demands that existing society be destroyed so that the 'enlightened' can usher in the socialist utopia that they are certain that exists, if only they could just get rid of the pesky non-believers. It always ends in destruction, gulag and mass executions. Always.; 11/22/17, 9:24 AM
Unknown said...: It’s so much easier - and fun! - to put on a show than to work towards making an impact in your community.; 11/22/17, 9:25 AM
Sprezzatura said...: "Wisconsin is pretty normal."

Ha.

Your state's participation trophy is in the mail.; 11/22/17, 9:25 AM
tcrosse said...: "Wisconsin is pretty normal."

Mostly Harmless.; 11/22/17, 9:26 AM
Mike Sylwester said...: (grrr, I hate that I can't edit my comments for grammar after they are posted)

Delete the comment and then post a corrected one.; 11/22/17, 9:31 AM
Sprezzatura said...: "Mostly Harmless."

Maybe they'll decide to change the license plate moto after all.; 11/22/17, 9:31 AM
tim maguire said...: We put too many people in jail for reasons that are often petty and unworthy. We let Prison Guard unions lobby for stricter laws and stricter enforcement, which is evil by any standard, so it's hard for me to buy that opposition to a new jail requires support for anarchy.; 11/22/17, 9:33 AM
Michael McNeil said...: Delete the comment and then post a corrected one.

Approved by Althouse herself!; 11/22/17, 9:34 AM
richlb said...: Delete the comment and then post a corrected one.

Approved by Althouse herself!

Yes, but I hate having that "deleted comment" hanging out there. Gives the impression that I a) changed my mind or b) posted something salacious and then thought better of it. I'll live with the framework here, but it annoys me. (and yes, if I just proofread better before posting this wouldn't happen - but even Althouse herself is guilty of incomplete proofreading)

And I know Madison is a city and not the whole state, but it's not doing the state any favors for its reputation.; 11/22/17, 9:38 AM
Fernandinande said...: “Derail the Jail.”

It should be a crime to rhyme.; 11/22/17, 9:41 AM
Luke Lea said...: Unuseful idiots.; 11/22/17, 9:42 AM
CWJ said...: "Mostly Harmless."

Now you're just asking for the Vogons to arrive. I'm getting my towel.; 11/22/17, 9:46 AM
Merny11 said...: Tim, you feel that prison guards wanting stricter laws and enforcement is evil? My son is a Corrections Officer at a Juvenile facility. He went into it thinking he could "help" troubled kids. He found out in a hurry that most are hard core, angry, evil bastards with no respect for anyone. Very very few and far between are innocent kids in there. And these are Juveniles! He's been spit on, punched, sworn at night after night after night. All for pretty lousy pay. So sorry if I don't agree that its the guards that are evil.
As to living in Wisconsin - its a wonderful place - as long as you stay away from Madison.; 11/22/17, 9:47 AM
MadisonMan said...: And outside of Madison, Wisconsin is pretty normal

If you can handle snow and cold (I don't really, not anymore), I'd suggest living up in Ashland, or Hurley, or Rhinelander. Plenty to do outside in all 4 seasons (well, maybe not Spring when it's too muddy/buggy). Beautiful scenery, awesome hiking and hunting.; 11/22/17, 9:48 AM
MadisonMan said...: What's Disgusting? Meeting busting!; 11/22/17, 9:49 AM
Seeing Red said...: Vile Progs/Lord of the Flies.

It keeps the masses scared.

They want to turn us into prey. Why do their social experiments turn us into prey?

Concealed Carry looks better and better.; 11/22/17, 9:49 AM
roesch/voltaire said...: I don't understand the comparison to this small protest of twenty to 100,00 against Scott Walker? But I agree at least the justice system itself needs reform and I also think. the county jail needs to be up-dated.Yes the community needs to be involved, as the protestors chant, but I would suggest, before their families members become arrested and not just after.; 11/22/17, 9:58 AM
robother said...: I see no giant puppets. I miss the puppets. Where are the puppets?

Don't bother, they're here.; 11/22/17, 10:00 AM
Gahrie said...: Jail protects both sides..the public from criminals and criminals from the public. Get rid of jails and vigilantism and lynching will become the norm.; 11/22/17, 10:11 AM
Mark said...: Using Blaska as a reporting source is like using Glenn Beck.

Of course the other side sounds insane and exaggerated when you choose to go with someone like Blaska who has little regard for the truth or nuance.

If you hate it so much here Althouse, you are free to leave.; 11/22/17, 10:13 AM
Gahrie said...: But I agree at least the justice system itself needs reform

Why

and I also think. the county jail needs to be up-dated.

What's the matter? The big screen TVs aren't in 3-D? Not enough weight sets?; 11/22/17, 10:13 AM
robother said...: Gahrie: "Get rid of jails and vigilantism and lynching will become the norm."

I think you may be overestimating the testosterone quotient of Madison, WI.; 11/22/17, 10:22 AM
MadisonMan said...: If you hate it so much here Althouse

Holding up a mirror to rude behavior, and publicizing it. That's hatred?; 11/22/17, 10:29 AM
paminwi said...: So Mark: video proof is biased? You are free to post an "other side" link to how wonderful those idiots look to those on their side.
Arrests should have been made.; 11/22/17, 10:33 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Jail protects both sides..the public from criminals and criminals from the public. Get rid of jails and vigilantism and lynching will become the norm.

Bingo!; 11/22/17, 10:50 AM
holdfast said...: When I hear reprobates chanting ""This is what democracy looks like" - and I've been hearing it since the APEC and WTO protests back in the late 1990s - it makes me think that maybe we should give Pinochet-style quasi-fascism another try. I mean, if democracy is going to suck so much, let's try something else.

Free helicopter rides for all the protesters!; 11/22/17, 10:57 AM
Curious George said...: "Mark said...
Using Blaska as a reporting source is like using Glenn Beck.

Of course the other side sounds insane and exaggerated when you choose to go with someone like Blaska who has little regard for the truth or nuance.

If you hate it so much here Althouse, you are free to leave."

All Althouse did was post his report, without comment dumbfuck. But I think the steaming pile you always dump on the blog has value this time. If the protesters don't like it, and they clearly don't, they are free to leave.; 11/22/17, 11:09 AM
tcrosse said...: In Madison is there no vigilantism and lynching for Thought Crimes ?; 11/22/17, 11:19 AM
Ken B said...: Tell me what Trump in 2020 looks like.
This is what Trump in 2020 looks like.
Tell me what Trump in 2020 looks like.
This is what Trump in 2020 looks like.
Tell me what Trump in 2020 looks like.
This is what Trump in 2020 looks like.
Tell me what Trump in 2020 looks like.
This is what Trump in 2020 looks like.; 11/22/17, 11:29 AM
madAsHell said...: Jury nullification by budget protest?; 11/22/17, 1:06 PM
n.n said...: Occupy Madison.; 11/22/17, 1:06 PM
roesch/voltaire said...: Gahrie--The jail is over-crowed, old and difficult to keep both the watchers and the watch safe. Obviously something is wrong with the justice system in its lopsided arrest of minorities often times, but not always, for low level drug crimes. Many books and blogs on the subject that you might want to check out.; 11/22/17, 1:16 PM
Meade said...: "If you hate it so much here Althouse, you are free to leave."

But what if she doesn't "hate it so much here," Mark? Is she free to stay?

And suppose someone does hate it so much here. Are they not free to speak? To dissent? To link to bloggers who point out mob actions and the hypocrisies and inconsistencies and self-satisfactions of so-called Progressives who happen to be in the majority?

Minorities have no rights and must leave? I think I remember you from the 60's: America. Love it or leave it.; 11/22/17, 1:26 PM
Ken B said...: Gahrie
I agree with Voltaire that the system needs a fix, but we disagree on what that fix is. I say we need to end the war on drugs. He says we just need to lock up more white people, for balance.

Now Voltaire will deny that is what he wants. But it is consistent with what he *says* he wants.; 11/22/17, 1:28 PM
Ken B said...: "Using Blaska as a reporting source is like using Glenn Beck. Of course the other side sounds insane and exaggerated when you choose to go with someone like Blaska who has little regard for the truth or nuance."

Blaska faked the video? The voices are all Blaska multi-tracking to make them "sound[] insane"?; 11/22/17, 1:32 PM
Meade said...: "I don't understand the comparison to this small protest of twenty to 100,00 against Scott Walker?"

Same chants, same demonstration techniques, same dimness.; 11/22/17, 1:33 PM
Meade said...: Actually, more dimness. By a factor of about 5000.; 11/22/17, 1:35 PM
Gahrie said...: Obviously something is wrong with the justice system in its lopsided arrest of minorities often times, but not always, for low level drug crimes.

So the fact that minorities are committing a preponderance of the crimes has nothing to do with it?; 11/22/17, 1:53 PM
Jim at said...: Yes, these nut cases want NO JAIL at all!

Careful what you wish for, leftists.
Because if there is no jail? That means no jail for anybody.

Anybody.
No matter what crime he or she may commit.; 11/22/17, 2:13 PM
Rick said...: You can tell America is getting better all the time because the shit the left obsesses over gets nuttier and nuttier.; 11/22/17, 2:15 PM
Curious George said...: They even did the "Shame, Shame, Shame" chant.

Losers. Sad!; 11/22/17, 2:29 PM
Rick said...: I think I remember you from the 60's: America. Love it or leave it.

Exactly what that comment triggered for me.

Of course the other side sounds insane and exaggerated when you choose to go with someone like Blaska who has little regard for the truth or nuance.

How revealing he interprets evidence of left wing extremism as evidence of right wing extremism. That's how the game is played. Except better, usually.; 11/22/17, 2:48 PM
holdfast said...: It is true that one is more likely to get arrested for smoking weed on the front stoop compared to smoking weed in one's parents basement. That may result in a racial disparity in arrest rate, but it doesn't stem from racism.; 11/22/17, 2:52 PM
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...: Who knew democracy looked so much like an unruly mob shutting down a meeting of duly, and democratically, elected officials.; 11/22/17, 3:13 PM
Caligula said...: Those who wish to abolish jails might consider the alternative.

There have, after all, been societies which had neither jails nor jailers. To be sure, these were mostly pre-state societies which could afford neither.

Nonetheless, it's not too hard to answer the question, "What did they do with troublemakers?" And to that, the answer is, if they couldn't banish them (as was usually the case) then they were killed.; 11/22/17, 3:31 PM
buwaya said...: Caning, whipping and the stocks are alternatives too.; 11/22/17, 3:50 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: Oh! That is what democracy looks like!
Instructive.; 11/22/17, 4:52 PM
Drago said...: r/v: "Obviously something is wrong with the justice system in its lopsided arrest of minorities often times, but not always, for low level drug crimes"

Lefties still peddling the same old statistical lies.

And not even well.

I suggest you look at the incarceration rates for blacks and compare them to the drug of choice in rural/small town white america (Meth). What you will find is similar arrest numbers, prosecution numbers, incarceration numbers and sentencing numbers.

And why is that you might ask (assuming you are not a voice-actuated dummy like R/V)? Because meth and inner city drug activities include similar types and degrees of violence and associated criminal behavior.

And, just for historical purposes, who were the politicians in the '80's who begged for tougher sentencing for crack-related criminal activity (you might ask that question if you are not a voice-actuated dummy like R/V)? Inner city black politicians who saw what crack and its associated violence were doing to their communities.

But what do those black inner city politicians know? Don't they realize that white-as-rice R/V disagrees with them?

Hey R/V, why don't you keep on Lefty-White-splaining to those inner city types why they are so wrong? Go ahead. Go right ahead.; 11/22/17, 7:58 PM
The Godfather said...: It looked to me from the video that democracy was actually going on despite the interruptions, but the reports suggest otherwise. Anyway, this demonstrates that sometimes the proper functioning of a democratic government requires that anti-democratic elements be suppressed (lawfully, of course). That disrupters claim the cloak of democracy doesn't mean that they are entitled to it. If the jail isn't big enough to hold them, that's a good argument for enlarging it.; 11/22/17, 9:35 PM
IgnatzEsq said...: In the Big Rock Candy Mountains,
The jails are made of tin.
And you can walk right out again,
As soon as you are in.
There ain't no short-handled shovels,
No axes, saws nor picks,
I'm bound to stay
Where you sleep all day,
Where they hung the jerk
That invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains; 11/22/17, 10:09 PM
Michael The Magnificent said...: "Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality." - Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate (and subsequently Governor) Lee Dreyfus; 11/22/17, 11:45 PM