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The Walker administration requested that police clear the capitol of protesters and their belongings by 4pm today. This was the response from the head of the police union.
Police are sleeping in the capitol tonight amongst the protesters. God knows what would be happening right now if they weren't.
The goal of the protest tomorrow is to constitute the largest rally in Wisconsin history. I guess being the biggest demonstration this side of Vietnam isn't enough.
Here's hoping that peace and justice prevail sooner rather than later.
Post by LoveLuckLaughter on Feb 26, 2011 8:17:34 GMT -5
My union (SEIU 1199), is bussing people to Columbus on Tuesday for continued "rallies for the middle class". Our efforts here in Ohio against SB 5 are peanuts compared to what you guys are doing, but our voices are being heard nonetheless.
We're all a mess of paradoxes. Believing in things we know can't be true. We walk around carrying feelings too complicated and contradictory to express. But when it all becomes too big, and words aren't enough to help get it all out, there's always music.
It's great to see solidarity amongst the cop unions with the rest of the public sector, especially being the police unions wouldn't be effected by Walker's proposal. Now if only the private sector could get on board- can I suggest a general strike?!
Workers of the the world unite- you have nothing to loose but your chains.
I never said he was close, just getting closer. And try and have a sense of humor even in this serious situation. I mean the camel thing is wee bit funny.
You know excluding cops and fire fighters was one of the slimiest, most blatantly political moves I've seen in a long time. Those two groups skew more conservatively and republican than your average state employee so he loses nothing politically and they are groups that are respected by most everyone for risking their lives. If Walker had tried to do this to their unions the outcry would have been even louder.
Cheers to both groups for standing in solidarity....an injury to one is an injury to all!
1-1-12 Bassnectar NYE SHOW! 1-21-12 G. Love and Special Sauce 3-1-12 Radiohead 3-9-12 Experience Hendrix 5-15-12 Jack White @ The Ryman 6-7-12 Bonnaroo 6-19-12 Roger Waters presents "THE WALL" 7-7-12 Ringo Starr's 72nd Birthday Party Extravaganza at the Ryman
1-1-12 Bassnectar NYE SHOW! 1-21-12 G. Love and Special Sauce 3-1-12 Radiohead 3-9-12 Experience Hendrix 5-15-12 Jack White @ The Ryman 6-7-12 Bonnaroo 6-19-12 Roger Waters presents "THE WALL" 7-7-12 Ringo Starr's 72nd Birthday Party Extravaganza at the Ryman
You know excluding cops and fire fighters was one of the slimiest, most blatantly political moves I've seen in a long time. Those two groups skew more conservatively and republican than your average state employee so he loses nothing politically and they are groups that are respected by most everyone for risking their lives. If Walker had tried to do this to their unions the outcry would have been even louder.
Cheers to both groups for standing in solidarity....an injury to one is an injury to all!
We stand with Wisconsin!
Not to mention the police and firefighter unions were the only two unions who supported his nod for governor.
1-1-12 Bassnectar NYE SHOW! 1-21-12 G. Love and Special Sauce 3-1-12 Radiohead 3-9-12 Experience Hendrix 5-15-12 Jack White @ The Ryman 6-7-12 Bonnaroo 6-19-12 Roger Waters presents "THE WALL" 7-7-12 Ringo Starr's 72nd Birthday Party Extravaganza at the Ryman
i wonder if ex-speaker of the house pelosi is calling all the pro-union protesters "astro-turf" and "un-American"...just the way she called the protesters of the healthcare law. or does it just work one way?
i wonder is ex-speaker of the house pelosi is calling all the pro-union protesters "astro-turf" and "un-American"...just the way she called the protesters of the healthcare law. or does it just work one way?
Hmmm so you are saying the teahdists corporate sponsored protests were less than grass roots then? Of course the difference is the unions are not lying about their involvement through thinly veiled PACS with names like "Americans For Prosperity".
im not saying anything about any group being authentic or not...however, it does seem funny that the ex-speaker would label a group one way for standing up for their beliefs, and be completely silent when it benefits the party she is aligned with
once again, seems to only work one way
edit: i wonder if the word "teahadist" is really civil. better be careful...someone who isnt stable in the head might read that and do something stupid. oh wait, it's almost two months since the shooting of rep giffords...please, tell me how you really feel
im not saying anything about any group being authentic or not...however, it does seem funny that the ex-speaker would label a group one way for standing up for their beliefs, and be completely silent when it benefits the party she is aligned with
once again, seems to only work one way
Once again for those who were not listening the first time. Unions are exactly what they say they are, and do what they have always done it is not grass roots they are a established political force. They rely on a group membership with monthly contributions from the rank and file and support each other with solidarity. The teabaggers get free bus rides from billionaires. Yet you wonder why people question how genuine their "movement" is.
Also jiggy, you getting mad at partisan name calling is the funniest thing I have heard out of you in months. Have some irony it is good for your blood.
Last Edit: Feb 27, 2011 23:03:20 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
wow...billionaires giving FREE rides! i thought the people who pay the majority of all income taxes were penny-pinchers who only like to keep their money.
and believe me wolf, i do have a sense of humor, and a good one at that. however, i will call out a double-standard if i do see one. i seem to remember like 99% of everyone who posts in the "current issues under obama" thread were moaning about bullseyes, and quotes from repubs as the cause of giffords shooting.
once again, for those not listening...does it really go one way?
Post by LoveLuckLaughter on Feb 28, 2011 0:04:32 GMT -5
Hiya jigawig! It was good to meet you in NOLA.
Just for clarification purposes. Pelosi did not call the protesters or protests themselves "un-American". It was because they were causing disruptions to the point that civil debate at town hall meetings had become impossible. These were not street protests she was speaking of.
"Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American." Is the actual quote.
Additionally, while there is a higher percentage of TOTAL taxes paid to the government by the top wage earners ("the majority of taxes"), they are not being burdened, nor deserve to be pointed out as paying "the majority of all income taxes". Their PERSONAL percentage of total income and earnings paid to taxes is not necessarily disproportionate in comparison to all lower wage earners. 20% of $100.00 will always equal more than 20% of $10.00. But it is 20% nonetheless.
Because I have no loop-holes I can take advantage of I paid 34% of my income to taxes/SS/Medicare. 19% went to the Feds. And I received no refund last year, mind you, despite being the mother of 2. So your statement is a bit misleading, as middle to upper middle class wage earners in this country tend to pay a higher percentage of their incomes/earnings to taxes than some of their wealthier neighbors.
Frankly, I'm not sure what relevance that statement had to this discussion or your point in general. It came across as a means to be condescending towards those not included in the "majority of all income tax" payers. I do agree with you that as a general rule, we should hold each other/ each party equally accountable for their actions, statements, stated values etc. I'm so tired of this mindless wheel spinning that goes on in the name of emotionally charged partisanship.
We're all a mess of paradoxes. Believing in things we know can't be true. We walk around carrying feelings too complicated and contradictory to express. But when it all becomes too big, and words aren't enough to help get it all out, there's always music.
wow...billionaires giving FREE rides! i thought the people who pay the majority of all income taxes were penny-pinchers who only like to keep their money.
and believe me wolf, i do have a sense of humor, and a good one at that. however, i will call out a double-standard if i do see one. i seem to remember like 99% of everyone who posts in the "current issues under obama" thread were moaning about bullseyes, and quotes from repubs as the cause of giffords shooting.
once again, for those not listening...does it really go one way?
So you're comparing rhetoric that accuses a group of people for being violent to rhetoric that draws on calls to violent action?
Telling and totally missing the point.
Last Edit: Feb 28, 2011 1:11:51 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
wow...billionaires giving FREE rides! i thought the people who pay the majority of all income taxes were penny-pinchers who only like to keep their money.
and believe me wolf, i do have a sense of humor, and a good one at that. however, i will call out a double-standard if i do see one. i seem to remember like 99% of everyone who posts in the "current issues under obama" thread were moaning about bullseyes, and quotes from repubs as the cause of giffords shooting.
once again, for those not listening...does it really go one way?
Really that is how you remember it? I remember most of us saying it seemed like it was the work of a disturbed individual.
Also sorry there is no double standard here jiggsy, the Union supporters are middle class people fed up with their government pooling their resources to protest. That is what a grass roots movement is. When you are funded by billionaires who pay appreciably smaller percentage of their income in taxes than I do to bus angry people around you are a astroturf group. This are the two definitions there is no double standard.
Last Edit: Feb 28, 2011 9:09:58 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
Tea Parties have to have people bussed in from all over to achieve 1/2 the number of people currently protesting in Wisconsin. And the TV interviews in WI don't show people who are completely unhinged from reality like the Tea Party (ie: keep your gov't hands off my medicare). I don't really think you can compare the two groups other than the obvious fact that they are both protesting something. One is organized by PAC's and lobbyists and the other is not.
What I don't understand is how Walker got elected in the first place. From what I've understood, WI became a Republican majority in the last election due to the tea party. Or at least that's what's being reported. So I'm taking it that "busting up the unions" wasn't part of his election campaign? Someone earlier had said that the police and firefighters had originally supported his bid for gov. Clearly they would not have supported Walker if they had known this was his plan once elected.
i wonder if ex-speaker of the house pelosi is calling all the pro-union protesters "astro-turf" and "un-American"...just the way she called the protesters of the healthcare law. or does it just work one way?
I guess a Republican speaker would never impugn a grassroots protest by implying it was staged for political reasons. Oh wait - he did!
"...the White House has even unleashed the Democratic National Committee to spread disinformation and confusion in Wisconsin regarding the governor's courageous actions. I urge the president to order the DNC to suspend these tactics. This is not the way you begin an 'adult conversation' in America about solutions to the fiscal challenges that are destroying jobs in our country. - Boehner
An most ironically seeing as how Tea Partyers main tactic in opposing Healthcare Reform was shouting to disrupt meeting and causing chaos to make sure nothing could get done (I went to several so I know first hand and personally of threat and intimidation.) Boehner continued saying
"Rather than shouting down those in office who speak honestly about the challenges we face, the president and his advisors should lead."
edit: i wonder if the word "teahadist" is really civil. better be careful...someone who isnt stable in the head might read that and do something stupid. oh wait, it's almost two months since the shooting of rep giffords...please, tell me how you really feel
Let's look to the transcripts of when Scott Walker got a prank phone call from someone pretending to be billionaire Republican donor David Koch. Linking to the video because I somehow doubt Walker supporter jigawig neither knows nor cares about it:
Scott Walker: If you heard that I was going to talk to them, that would be the only reason why. We would only do it if they came back to the Capitol with all 14 of them. My sense is hell, I’ll talk to them, if they want to yell at me for an hour, you know I’m used to that, I can deal with that, but I’m not negotiating.
"David Koch": Bring a baseball bat. That’s what I’d do.
Walker: [Laughs] I have one in my office; you’d be happy with that. [Laughs] I have a Slugger with my name on it.
But THIS is okay after the Giffords shooting?
And this?
"David Koch": Right, right. We’ll back you any way we can. But what we were thinking about the crowd was, uh, was planting some troublemakers.
Scott Walker: You know, well, the only problem with that — because we thought about that. The problem with — my only gut reaction to that would be, right now the lawmakers I’ve talked to have just completely had it with them. The public is not really fond of this. The teacher’s union did some polling and focus groups I think and found out that the public turned on them the minute they closed school down on them for a couple of days. The guys we’ve got left are largely from out of state and I keep dismissing it in all my press comments, saying ehh, they’re mostly from out of state. My only fear would be if there’s a ruckus caused is that would scare the public into thinking maybe the governor has to settle to avoid all these problems.
That's right... my governor thought about sending a group of "troublemakers" into a crowd that has been peacefully protesting for two weeks now. Make no mistake: this protest would have been shut down long ago if this were the riotous crowd it might be made out to be in the media.
This is Day Fifteen of the Cheddar Revolution and we do not yet even have fifteen arrests - that is not even one a day average. At its peak, one hundred thousand people were out in the streets. That ought to tell you something.
As for grassroots vs. astroturf: this operation is totally funded and planned by the Koch brothers. I am ecstatic that something has finally happened to turn the spotlight on the man behind the curtain. Saturday the 19th, the Tea Party bussed people in from twelve cities around the state (Andrew Brietbart & Joe the Plumber spoke at their rally). The total crowd that day was 70k people, and the Tea Party presence was estimated to be at 3-5k people. These buses were sponsored by Koch brothers front group Americans for Prosperity. (Other Koch front groups include the Club for Growth and Citizens United to name a few, for the record.)
This is merely Walker's proposed budget repair bill which has drawn so much protest. His actual budget is due to be announced in early March. This is more than a state budget issue. This is not just about financial concessions. Walker received those concessions a week and a half ago. This is about taking away rights which have been previously granted. As freedom-loving Badgers and Americans, this simply will not stand.
The good people of Wisconsin* by and large see this for what it is: large moneyed interests acting in concert with government officials against the people's interest. This is a major motif throughout the course of human history. We see out of state billionaires interfering with our economy and local politics and will no longer stand for it. [* thanks to unionized teachers making us the state in the nation with 2nd-highest SAT scores!]
The Koch brothers and others like them know that if they can pull this off in Madison, WI they can do it anywhere. I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: this ceased to be a purely fiscal issue when the unions made financial concessions and Walker continued to insist on stripping working people of their previously granted rights. It's an opening salvo in a new round of class warfare, and it has not been instigated by We The People, but rather They The Money. The sooner people realize this, the better. Which is exactly why the corporate-owned media would rather talk about these things going on anywhere in the world besides the home front. I've seen domestic coverage of this and I've seen foreign coverage, and the foreign coverage has been more detailed and astute than anything you'll see here.
Long story short: We have entered what Russ Feingold has called "The Gilded Age on Steroids." This is class warfare. Madison WI is ground zero for the corporate/wealthy interests to impose their agenda on the have-nots. It does not end here: governors in Indiana, Ohio & Florida were watching and waiting to see what happened here before executing similar plans of their own. We citizens need to pay more attention to the man behind the curtain.
Enough political ranting for now (I am currently shut out of the capitol building). I've got some excellent pictures (one of which even got me a shout-out from Keith Olbermann ;D ) to share. At least, I think I set these up to properly share... I'm normally on Medium security, set these up to Share with Everyone, and that didn't work at first so I had to tweak some Account Settings. Let me know if these are working: Week One (14 pics) Week Two (138 pics)
While I'm throwing out links: www.twitter.com/kevinjk I wasn't really big on Twitter, but have found it extremely handy during the Cheddar Revolution.
Week Three begins today.
I said in my first post, Scott Walker wanted the capitol cleared of protesters by 4pm yesterday. My Facebook status from last night tells that story in a nutshell: Wisconsin News Today in a Nutshell: Gov. Walker ordered the capitol building closed "for cleaning" today with everyone cleared out by 4pm. I understand that protesters struck a deal with police, and there was a dance party and pizza on its way around 6pm.
If Scott Walker cannot control four square city blocks, how can he be entrusted to ably perform as chief executive of an entire state? I know I've been carrying around a sign (amongst others) that says RESIGNATION OR BUST. We know that even if this bill dies, Scott Walker will take whatever opportunity he can to sell us out to his corporate puppetmasters. Pay attention to the man behind the curtain, everyone... he needs to be dragged out from back there and given a good old-fashioned curb stomp.
But I can't end this post on such a down note. Please enjoy some footage of what democracy looks like:
(Watch through the credits at the end, the two guys at the end are priceless.)
Actually, I have lately been ending a great deal of my correspondence with our state motto. I will do the same here, except in the form of a picture. Yours truly was on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Op-Ed section Sunday wearing my protest headgear:
They should be! I have yet to talk to anyone who isn't at least one degree of separation from, if not directly affected by, Walker's proposals.
Walker's budget repair bill proposal has something to piss off a lot of people, not just public sector union workers. I know I'm not a union worker, and I'm going on two weeks in this fight.
This bill is going to boot people from Medicaid - most specifically the state SeniorCare and BadgerCare programs - by eliminating legislative oversight over Medicaid spending decisions. Basically, power over those decisions would be concentrated in the hands of a political appointee loyal to the governor. Goodbye, checks and balances. Goodbye, only reason I've been able to see a doctor in the past ten years... as a (relatively) young, childless man I shall be among the first to be purged
Part of this bill allows the state to sell off power/heating/cooling plants and then continue to use them to power/heat/cool state buildings. He's essentially selling them so the state can lease them from a private business. This shall be done through a no-bid contract process. In other words, he can sell it to whatever political ally he wishes for as little as $1. Not even a competitive bidding process to ensure that the state at least gets the best possible deal. Oh, and with profit becoming a motive for whomever would purchase these plants, the power/heating/cooling the state is still going to use would probably wind up costing more. I don't understand how this is fiscally responsible, or anything but paying back his political supporters. It's pretty obvious he's going to sell this plant to his Koch brother puppetmasters. It is pretty telling that they set up a lobbying firm a block from the capitol as soon as Walker got elected. (Although our protest at said firm Thursday seemed to have the effect of getting them to close up shop - or merely relocate - in the middle of the night.)
Walker's bill has some pretty expansive exemptions for removing environmental restrictions on wetlands. Probably not coincidentally, the land that is being exempted largely belongs to his campaign contributors.
Walker's bill would allow the state to discriminate against homosexual business owners in contract decisions.
Walker's bill would sever my alma mater UW-Madison from the rest of the UW System. This would be governed by an entirely new board of regents - ten selected by UW and eleven selected by Walker (although one of those 11 has to be an existing regent.) I disapprove. For one, creating additional government entities to perform the same amount of tasks is redundant and therefore fiscally irresponsible. For two, with this guy's agenda, I fear for my alma mater. UW-Madison was the birthplace of stem cell research (and all the ensuing federal funds/jobs) and I wouldn't be surprised to see ardently pro-life Walker go after them if this power grab succeeds.
Not to mention Walker turned down $810 million in already-promised federal money for building high-speed rail between Madison & Milwaukee before he was even in office. A company that was going to create 1500 jobs in this state moved to Illinois, where they have a governor who gladly took the money Walker refused. I'm so glad he made a stand against spending that was going to happen anyway He also turned down a $25 million dollar grant (as in, not needing to be paid back) for expanding rural internet access. God forbid we increase our competitive advantage in this economy.
All this is just for starters. This is only Walker's budget repair bill. His actual budget is going to be released in a speech today... *cue ominous music* ...at the state capitol.
I wasn't meanin' to imply they didn't care about what's goin' on. Not sure if you were gettin' at that or not, but now I'm glad I know more of what's goin' on in Wisconsin! As fer my family in WI, it's more that they're all goin' through enough difficulties right now that I just doubt they have time to actually protest.
my billionaires comment was meant to be funny, i guess it just wasn't as funny as i imagined it would be. that aside, many are saying that tea-partiers have to be bussed in and yet the numbers arent up there with the union protesters...ill give you that the numbers are correct, as to whether billionaires are bussing people in, well that i cant comment on because i havent seen or read anything like that (not saying it isnt true, though). however, what is the difference between billionaires using their own money to bus people, who have the same beliefs/ideology, to a location to protest a cause vs tom morello showing up and singing the praises of unions, and people showing up for that? or what is the difference when people unite behind michael moore's ideology vs people showing up supporting the anti-union protesters?
or hold up, given the source you can call it slander/lies/etc. how about this tid-bit...from FoxNews (aka FauxNews to like 99% on here):
Meanwhile, Democracy for America, the political action committee founded by Howard Dean and led by his brother, is attempting to raise $150,000 in support of the 14 Senate Democrats by asking donors for contributions of $14. The group said it has raised $5,269 so far.
"Similar attacks on unions are being planned in Ohio, New Jersey, and at least 10 more states," the group says in a fundraising e-mail. "How we win -- if we win - may determine whether those attacks go forward.We have a chance to stop them all right here, right now. D.O.A."
im pretty sure that howard dean is a billionaire.
with regards to the arizona shooting and civility, please, if i remember correctly, it wasnt until brought up the fact that dems had the same targets and rhetoric as reps that other people on here started to say "oh well maybe it's on both sides, but it's mainly on the rep side".
oh, and lovelucklaughter, it was a pleasure meeting you, your brother, and i forget who the other inforooster was. that was probably the best voodoo ive attended (considering ive only been to three). im still puzzled as to how we even met/started hanging out at that first after-party. then on the sunday after-party, i was even more startled how my group was walking down frenchman, and how i noticed you and your friend with your pink wigs. good times, good times!!!
He also turned down a $25 million dollar grant (as in, not needing to be paid back) for expanding rural internet access. God forbid we increase our competitive advantage in this economy.